Bagmati Province MP Madhukumar Shrestha Accuses Popular Artists of Ignoring Film Artists Association

Kathmandu. Bagmati Province MP and actor Madhukumar Shrestha has accused popular artists of neglecting the Nepal Film Artists Association. He said this while speaking at the opening session of the 21st General Assembly of the Artists Association on Sunday. 

MP Shrestha expressed the view that although the association is a common umbrella organization for all artists, the absence of big and popular artists suggests they do not understand the value of the organization.

"When there are awards or programs abroad, senior and popular artists flock to them, but they are not seen at the convention of the organization that fights for their own rights," he said. "If they don't come, what is the justification for continuing to give them membership and consider them senior?" He opined that the tendency to ignore the association would weaken the institution.

Targeting the electoral competition between Sabin Shrestha and Uttam KC for the leadership of the association, MP Shrestha emphasized the need for healthy competition in the election.

"A game of backbiting and pulling each other down is happening on social media. This is an insult to the field of acting," he added. "It is sad to see friends who contested elections together yesterday now divided and trying to finish each other off." 

MP Shrestha mentioned that the current building of the Artists Association is not in a convenient location in Kalanki and urged to sell it and find land in the center of the city. "If the association books land in a centralized place like Baneshwor, Anamnagar, or Gaushala, I commit to allocating the necessary budget for building construction from the Bagmati Province government," he said.

At the program, Chairman of the Film Development Board, Dinesh DC, said that the board operates according to rules and laws rather than personally. Discussing the board's achievements, Chairman DC informed that the construction of a studio, which has been stalled for some time, is about to resume.

He stated that after discussions with the Mayor of Banepa Municipality next Monday for this purpose, it will receive a 'clean chit' and the studio construction work will proceed. He clarified that the board is a platform for the development of the film sector.

At the program, senior actress Basundhara Bhusal complained that artists do not understand the importance of the association. The program was attended by Film Association President Narendra Maharjan, Film Journalists Association President Sameer Balmi, actor Nabal Khadka, former Chairman of Film Development Board Rajkumar Rai, and many other artists.