Tulsi Ghimire – Nepali director

One of the successful directors of the Nepali film industry, Tulsi Ghimire apart from being a good film director he is equally successful screenwriter, editor, cameraman, actor and lyricist.

Tulsi Ghimire was born in Sindeybong, Kalimpong, Darjeeling in India in 1951 (BS 2008 Ashad 31). Tulsi is the eldest son of Dhojman Ghimire and Narbada Ghimire and has two younger brothers and a sister. Tulsi Ghimire completed Bachelor of Arts from Kalingpong College. He entered film line after working in a job for some time.

He is married to Bharati Ghimire (Gazmer), a well known singer in many of his films. His brother Shrawan Ghimire is also a successful film producer. Tulsi’s children Bhawana Ghimire and Panchami Ghimire, have also acted in a Nepali movie for children “Swarg Ko Pari”.

Tusli Ghimire initially moved to Mumbai from Kalimpong in 1974 to work in the Indian film industry, Bollywood. Tulsi’s mentor and Bollywood editor Kamlakar Karkhanis had advised him to make Nepali movies at that time. Tusli debuted in Nepali movie industry by starting the Nepali movie “Bansuri” in 1981 as the director. Tulsi Ghimire made the second movie, Kusume Rumal, on his own story story and it was very successful.

Read the rest of this entry »

Is sex good for Nepali film industry?

"Chapali height" got a good media coverage both before and after release. That was partly because of different controversies the movie was involved in before it was released, and ‘sexual psychology’ highlighted in it’s promotion. Although some have questioned the validity of the claims of its producer that ‘Chapali Height‘ has collected 50 lakhs in a single day, the publicity and viewers in theaters show it should have had a decent  opening. But, one can expect the initial response to fade in lights of negative reviews it is getting from critics and viewers.

Now, the question arises – is the movie getting negative review from viewers just because it has got sexual contents?

‘Chapali Height‘ compares well with a previous similar movie ‘Pal Pal Ma‘ released about two years ago. The movie ‘Pal Pal Ma‘ had also got an adult certificate from the censor board and it was publicized as the first Nepali movie to get an adult certificate. The ‘A’ certificate itself proved to be a tool of good publicity, and a good business as well. But, in essence, ‘Pal Pal Ma‘ had nothing to win the hearts of its viewers and virtually nobody appreciated it as a movie. In the movie, the topic of sex was only used for publicity and it was used in a vulgar way. (watch Palpalma here)

I think, history is repeating in case of ‘Chapali Height‘ too. In the case of both movies, small group of people liked the movie and the majority didn’t.

Read the rest of this entry »

10 point policy and program of Film Development Board

Film Development Board of Nepal has unveiled a 10-point-document outlining its rules and regulation for the development of movie making in Nepal. The rules were distributed to the journalists in a press meet organized on Monday, March 12, 2012.

Note: Following is unofficial translation of Nepali text (attached below)

1. About Film Development Board being autonomous– A law will soon be passed to ensure the Board to be more powerful and functional.
2. About national film festival – National film festival to be held in Surkhet of Mid-Western region within the month of Chaitra.
3. About international film festival – An international film festival will be held in June 1, 2012.
4. About film censorship in the hall of the Board – Movies are being censored in the Board’s new movie theatre. The hall rental for Nepali movie is fixed at Rs. 1000 and for foreign movie, it is Rs. 3000.
5. About delegation of responsibility to the Board – The Ministry of Information and Communication has authorized the Board to determine movie show times in film halls. No movie hall is allowed to have a morning shows before 11:00 AM except for Saturday.
6. Networking for Box Office report and organized business practice – The Board will require every Nepali and foreign films to submit their income and progress report.
7. Management of production, re-production, sale and distribution of copyright of film and film related materials – Following are the regulations;
   1. The companies producing CD, DVD, VCD, VHS should obtain the production license for each of those films from the Film Development Board.
   2. Each CD, DVD, VCD, VHS should contain the hologram provided by the Film Development Board.
   3. If such materials are produced by the ones authorized by the Board, such companies will be punished according to Copyright Act 2059.
   4. The retailers and rentals of movies should get a 5-year license to sell or rent movies. They should renew the license every 5 years.
8. To make movie sector more reliable – The Board is planning to require movie makers to deposit some amount of money with the Board that will be released after the movie is censored.
9. Classification of cinema halls – The board has expanded the classification of cinema halls in addition to Video and Colloid. The classification is pending approval of the ministry.
10. On ethics of film producers, hall owner, distributors, and artists – The board will release the ethics of all involved in film making in future.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bhuwan KC’s movie promotion leaves no stones unturned

Actor Bhuwan KC is known for creating controversies at the time of the release of his movies. His divorce rumors, love affairs, family history and stuffs like that surface at the time of movie releases.

Read the rest of this entry »

Marriage problems in Nepali movie sector

Divorce in Nepali movie sector has become a common happening these days. Divorce brings in pain and problems and doesn’t come easy for both the parties involved. The traditional Nepali society has made it even worse in terms of setting a ‘bad example’ in the society.

Let’s analyze some of the high profile problems in marriages of the personalities of Nepali movie industry:

Bhuwan KC / Sushmita KC  – Bhuwan KC is known for his affairs with various ladies.  Bhuwan KC’s first marriage with Bijaya KC ended when Bijaya went to USA with their kids. Bhuwan found Sushmita KC as his second wife. That too didn’t lasted long and they ‘divorced’ until they reunited again after the release of “Ma Timi Bina Marihalchu”. But, they have divorced again. Bhuwan’s affair with Sharmila Dangol didn’t go far and he is living alone these days. We won’t be surprised if Bhuwan and Sushmita get together after the release of ‘Sathi Ma Timro’ as predicted by friends in Films Nepal. (update- they didn’t get together, but there is rumor that Bhuwan is having an affair with Jiya KC)

Read the rest of this entry »

MovieWoods – Hollywood, Bollywood, Tollywood, Lollywood, Ollywood, Kollywood…

A news about a Nepali actor, Shri Krishna Shrestha, starting a business named "Kollywood Planet" left me thinking – is the Nepali movie industry Kollywood?

Although, Shri Krishna Shrestha’s business doesn’t seem much related to the Nepali movie industry, I have a feeling, he does want to represent the Nepali film industry. The name, Kollywood, seems to be inspired by the combination of Kathmandu and Hollywood. But, when I checked the name in Google, there was no reference of Kollywood being related to Nepali (or Kathmandu) film industry, at least, not on the first page.

That means, either we have to forget about the name "Kollywood" to represent our movie industry or, make it more popular by using it more frequently. In this context, let us review what Hollywood is and, what names are inspired by Hollywood:

In the modern time, Hollywood has become an iconic name to represent the US movie industry. The success of Hollywood movies has inspired other film industries to nickname themselves with Hollywood-inspired names.

Hollywood is a district in Los Angeles, California, United States (yes, it’s not a movie industry in itself, as believed popularly). The place situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles, got it’s cultural identity as the center of movie studios and movie stars when movie making activities increased in the early 20th century.

Read the rest of this entry »

When movie posters are not original- Premika poster compared with 100% Love poster

What can you expect from the film makers who can’t even design the posters of their own movies?

Do you believe the following poster is of Nepali movie?

Read the rest of this entry »

Murder 2 – poster plagiarism – can also happen in Bollywood

I thought, it can only happen in Nepali movies, – a low grade trick to copy the idea from other movies’ posters to design their posters. But, I am proved wrong!

Big banner Bollywood movie Murder 2 did the same – not in one but two of its posters. The sequel to the 2004 superhit film Murder, Murder 2 is told to be a Bollywood erotic thriller film.

Read the rest of this entry »

Looking back to 2067 in Nepali movies industry

In the new year, 2068, let’s look at some of the major events of 2067:

Deaths:

• Fight director Gopal Bhutani
• actress Shanti Maskey
• writer Diamond Shumser Rana
• singer Kumar Kanchha
• director Rajudhoj Rana
• production controller Raju Chhetri and Yam Tiwari

(Condolence to Mira Acharya, wife of comedian Hari Bansha Acharya – she died today, initial days of 2068)

New Relationships:

The most popular marriage this year was that of Manisha Koirala with businessman Samrat Dahal. Choreographer Dinesh Adhikari also got married last year. A new movie producer J B Ghising also got married with singer Lata Yonjan. Singer/actor Prashant Tamang also got married this year.

It is a different story of the marriage between Nikhil Upreti and Sanchita Luitel while Nikhil hasn’t divorced with his other wife, Kopila Upreti.

Problems in Relationships:
Read the rest of this entry »

Technology in Movies – Is that the reason Nepali movies are bad?

Background

It was an incident when I went to watch a movie in Kumari Cinema. During the interval, when I was having coffee with one of my friends we saw a group of guys aged 18-22. They were were there to watch a Hindi movie.

One of the guys showed the poster of a recently released Nepali movie ‘Mann Manai Man Paraye’ and said, “Why all Nepali movies have got same type of posters and story? Always action and same actors?” Another replied, "Our country is poor, so Nepali film industry lacks the technology Hollywood and Bollywood is blessed with. Nepali film makers have to work with limited technology. Or else our movies will also be better like Hindi and English ones." I felt good to hear the positive views of the youngsters about Nepali films.

Read the rest of this entry »

5 reasons music in memory card or pendrive won't work

Why are they scared of internet?

It made a ‘headline news’ when Music Nepal, the biggest music distributor in Nepal decided to sell music in memory card. Dr. Baburam Bhattarai inaugurated the pendrive by playing the National Anthem.

The memory card will be of capacity 1-2 GB and costs Rs. 675. Pendrive costs much more at Rs. 875. I know it includes the cost of hardware.

Read the rest of this entry »

The stupidest mistake in my life

It was the time I started riding my scooter and I did not knew much of the street rules. It was the time, I didn’t even know I had flat tire and somebody else has to tell me about it. You can call me ‘empty head.’ But, that was what I was in the beginning years of my scooter ride.

I am talking about an incident of the year 2004. I think, I was on the Lainchour area, when a micro-bus driver made a gesture with his five finger open and close twice and fast.

Okay, I have to admit it now, I misunderstood that gesture. Before I could even give him a damn look, he was off on the road. But, I didn’t want to let him go without teaching him a good lesson. So, I followed him as the it was going in the direction of my office.

At around Jamal area, near the Nabil Bank, the same micro-bus was stopped to let passenger get on it. When, I was close the the vehicle, the micro-bus driver made the same gesture, again. He opened and closed his five finger twice and fast!

Read the rest of this entry »

4 things to do after Kumar Kancha tragedy

Extensive effort to save Kumar Kancha proved to be unsuccessful and he died at the age of 54 on January 17, 2011. The sad truth, he lost all of his monetary earnings during the treatment and had to beg for help in his last days, from his death bed.

A lot of people had done their very best to help in collecting fund to help in his treatment.

Special mention : Donation collection drive one of my friends in the UK, Lex Limbu, came to an abrupt end when Kancha died. He sent a total of £800 GBP (NRs. 91,600) collected till date via Jharana Bajracharya to the fmaily of Kumar Kancha. It is really encouraging to see young people like Lex dedicating their time in helping artists in Nepal. Thank you Lex!

Read the rest of this entry »

Let's demand Saptahik to be categorized an 'adult' magazine

UPDATE: An online petition -To Name Nepali Weekly – Saptahik an Adult-Only Magazine- is started.

A disclaimer first: I don’t know anybody, in person, in Kantipur publication; they have never done any harm to me or anybody I know. Nobody has told to write this article and I have nothing personal to gain or loose by writing this article.

A Nepali weekly, published by once the biggest media house in Nepal, Saptahik, has claimed itself to be targeted to "EVERYBODY" and is publishing contents inappropriate for the children. I have raised this question more than a couple of times and have used every possible medium of communication to get reply from the concerned journalists in Kantipur publication. But, to my dismay, they have chosen to keep themselves in closed door.

Read the rest of this entry »

Kantipur's stray sexual desire – strip dance and women's most sensitive parts

It has been more than a few times Kantipur publication has shown it’s immaturity in it’s role as a mainstream media. It has shown signs of becoming an old lion who can’t hunt but is too proud to accept the truth – it is no longer a media of choice.

Kantipur’s desperate attempts to attract readers is evident in some of the articles with extreme sexual subjects, not suitable for minor. For example, the Dec. 24 edition of Saptahik teaches our kids to ‘strip dance’ and tells that Americans spend more time in strip bars than in theaters or operas. There is another article in the same edition, telling the kids that the inside of thighs are the most erotic parts to touch and kiss.

Now, tell me: What will you do if your 10 year-old kid want to test if Saptahik was right?

I wouldn’t have been complaining if the magazine were ‘adult only’. But, the magazine clearly mentions that it is “for everybody” – that includes kids (See the photo below, showing the title of Saptahik).

They might argue they are publishing articles on “sex education”. But, where in earth teachers talk about strip dance in school?

Well, this is not the first time, the sex hungry bunch at Kantipur have published such articles. Last time articles on Maya Bazin and Smita Thapa looked like articles written by a pimp rather than a journalist. In an attempt to hear what they have to say, I wrote emails to editors and writers but, I never got any replies. This is a perfect example on how they treat their readers.

Read the rest of this entry »