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| Cinema of Nepal (Nepali:नेपाली चलचित्र) | |
|---|---|
 Cinema of Nepal | |
| No. ofscreens | 450[1] |
| • Per capita | 0.2 per 100,000 (2001)[1] |
| Produced feature films (2016) | |
| Total | 100[1] |
Nepali Cinema, also referred to as "Nepali Chalachitra" (Nepali:नेपाली चलचित्र) is thefilmmaking industry inNepal. This includes films in various languages of Nepal, most notably in Nepali language but also inNewari,Maithili,Tamang,Bhojpuri andTharu among others. The termCinemandu is also used, as aportmanteau for films produced in the Nepali language while the Nepalese films produced fromKathmandu andJanakpur in the Maithili language is known asMithilawood. Both of these film industries are the largest viewing cinema of Nepal and are collectively known asNepali Cinema.[2]
The making of Nepalese films is said to have begun with D.B. Pariyar'sSatya Harishchandra, which was the first Nepali-language movie to be shot. It was produced inKolkata, India, and released on 14 September 1951.Aama (mother) was the first film produced in Nepal and was released on 7 October 1964. It was produced by the Information Department of His Majesty's Government of Nepal (nowGovernment of Nepal (GoN)).
The first film to be produced under a private banner wasMaitighar, which was released at the end of 1966.
The Nepal government established the Royal Nepal Film Corporation in 1971.Mann Ko Bandh was the first film produced by the corporation.
Paral Ko Aago was produced by Cinema in 1978. The music directorShanti Thatal became the first female music director in Nepali movies.
With the start of the 1980s, more films were being made and they were more accepted by Nepalese audiences.Badlindo Aakash,Samjhana,Kusume Rumal,Lahure,Kanchhi,Basudev,Saino andKoseli were released between 1984 and 1993. The leading actors wereBhuwan K.C. andTripti Nadakar, whose on-screen chemistry saw them being dubbed the "golden couple" of the industry. In the later years of the decade, the industry saw the rise ofRajesh Hamal andKarishma Manandhar.
In 1990, the film industry began to grow rapidly. There was an unprecedented growth in the number of productions. Within three years, some 140 films were made. Cinemas increased to more than 300.
Because of theMaoist insurgency in Nepal in the mid-1990s a very small number of films were made, and audience numbers fell sharply. In the later years after the conflict, the production and release of Nepali films had almost come to a standstill. Many actors and filmmakers left the country in search for work abroad. Actors like Saroj Khanal,Shiva Shrestha,Karishma Manandhar,Tripti Nadakar, Kristi Mainali andGauri Malla had little work.
In 2000–2001, the then-highest-grossing Nepali filmDarpan Chaya and 'Jindagani' were made.
By 2006, as the situation in Nepal calmed down and withMaoists coming into mainstream politics, the Nepali film industry started to return to its previous state, and more films were being made and released. This period also marked the commencement of digital films in the industry.
In December 2016,Bijuli Machine, Nepal's first science-fiction film with a social story was released and ran successfully in cinemas.[3] The movie was directed and written byNavin Awal withSantosh Lamichhane as a scientific consultant.[4][5] It was reported that the movie set a trend in Nepali films by a making a movie with a low budget, without an item song, stereotypical fights or a romantic story, rather with an authentic Nepali story inspired by the problems faced in the society, like electricity power cuts, and still succeeded to entertain the audience.[6]
The Legend of Shankhadhar is reported to be the first animated Nepali film.[7][8]
TheFilm Development Board is a liaison to facilitate the conceptualization, making, distribution and exhibition of Nepali films.[9]
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