Despite High Production Permits, Few Nepali Films Achieve Box Office Success; Several Projects Gear Up for Filming

Kathmandu. The Nepali film industry appears very active when looking at the number of production permits issued. However, analyzing the business figures reveals that the number of films succeeding at the box office is negligible.

Currently, about a dozen films are preparing to go into shooting. Films such as 'Double Triple', 'Maya Bhaneko Yesto Hola', 'Zero Degree', 'Chha Maya Chhapakkai 2', and 'Kaalkatti' are among those preparing to go on floors. These films are being made on subjects ranging from social, dark comedy, and love triangles to political satire and action thrillers.

Most of the films preparing for shooting feature a majority of stars and established actors. Senior director, producer, and actor Ashok Sharma's film 'Double Triple' is currently preparing for the floor. The film, set for release on Falgun 1, 2083 BS, is preparing to shoot after the elections. Director Sharma stated that all preparations for the film's shooting are complete.

Sharma's film will feature a large ensemble of Nepali film stars. Dayahang Rai, Khagendra Lamichhane, Miruna Magar, Keki Adhikari, Rajaram Poudel, Wilson Bikram Rai, Buddhi Tamang, and Maotse Gurung will all be acting in this film. Sharma says the film will present a family and entertaining story.

Actress Rekha Thapa is making a directorial comeback with 'Maya Bhaneko Yesto Hola'. This film, announced on the occasion of Mahashivaratri, was scheduled to start shooting in the second week of Falgun, but it has been postponed by a few weeks due to the elections. Rekha informed that the film will go on floors from Falgun 25.

"We were preparing to start shooting from Falgun 10. We decided to start later rather than stopping during the election period," she said.

Senior artist Madan Krishna Shrestha, along with three former Miss Ne pals Srishthi Shrestha, Namrata Shrestha, and Niti Shah, will be acting in the film. It is said that the film, which will be a love triangle, is being made based on real events from society.

The film 'Zero Degree', which is being jointly directed by Akash Baral and Sajan Kafle, is also preparing for the floor. The dark comedy genre film will revolve around the situation arising when the children living abroad bring a 'deep freeze' to preserve the bodies of their parents who passed away in a remote village, and the upheaval in the village. Actor Bijay Baral stated that the film, starring Vijay Baral and Sanisha Bhattarai in lead roles, will start shooting from Falgun 28.

The film 'Srinivas', also to be directed by Sajan Kafle and Akash Baral, is currently in preparation for shooting. Hari Bansha Acharya and Abhishek Khadka will play the lead roles in the film, which was announced for production some time ago.

The sequel to the 2019 blockbuster film 'Chha Maya Chhapakkai', 'Chha Maya Chhapakkai 2', is also preparing to go into shooting. The production unit has stated that this film, a collaboration between Deepak Raj Giri, Deepa Shree Niraula, and producer Rohit Adhikari, will go on floors from the first week of Chaitra. Directed by Dipendra Lama, the film will prominently feature the politics of the new generation. Deepak Raj, along with Keki Adhikari, Prakash Ghimire, and others, will act in the film. The film is targeted for release during Dashain in the year 2083 BS.

The action-thriller film 'Paras' is also on the verge of starting shooting. Nikhil Upreti, Niruta Singh, Jassita Gurung, Priyanka Karki, Sushil Shrestha, and other artists will play the main roles in the film directed by Krisha Chaulagain.

Sachin Ladia, the screenwriter of the famous Bollywood film 'Gangs of Wasseypur', has written the story for this film. The production side claims that this film, which is supposed to start shooting from the end of Falgun, will set a new standard for Nepali action films.

Another film of actor Bijay Baral, 'Sindure Jatra', is also preparing to go on floors. In this film directed by Saroj Paudel, Bijay will be paired with actress Anjana Baraili. The story of this film, which is scheduled to start shooting from Jestha 1, is also by director Paudel.

The film 'Kaalkatti', to be made under the banner of Raghuji Films, will also go on floors soon. 'Kaalkatti', directed by Amardeep Sapkota, was supposed to start shooting from the end of Magh but could not start due to various reasons. The film will go on floors from the third week of Chaitra. Producer Raghunath Sapkota stated that although the film had been preparing to shoot for some time, it was pushed to Chaitra due to various reasons. Producer Raghunath Sapkota claims that this film, which carries the core message that 'one does not get more than fate or earlier than time,' will bring new energy to Nepali cinema.