Nepali TV viewers are often irritated and confused with the Nepali movie related program and advertisements. Every report of upcoming movies adds up a confusion due to the similarity in the name. I usually exclaimed –

What? Didn’t I see this movie last year?

But, the names are not always same, they are similar! It is not only the name that is similar; thanks to the limited supply of artists, they usually have the same actor and actresses. Many get confused and prefer not to visit theaters to watch “similar” movies.

Here are some of the confusing names I came across various newspapers in various themes:

Maya ke ho?

• Ke Yo Maya Ho?
• Ho Yahi Maya Ho
• Maya Ta Maya Ho

First love

• Pahilo Pahilo Maya
• Pahilo Maya Ho Mero

Our own Kathmandu (waiting for Pokhara, Chitawan and likes)

• Kathmandu
• Goodbye Kathmandu
• Destination Kathmandu

Love again

• Maya Nagara
• Maya Namara

Brother

• Bhai
• Bhai Bhai
• Hami Teen Bhai
• Hami Sathi Bhai
• Didi Bhai

Please come

• Chadai Aau Hai
• Farki Aau Hai

Waiting

• Parkhi Basein
• Parkhi Rakha
• Prakhi Rakha Hai

Who are you?

• Ko Afno ko Parai
• Ko Afno Ko Birano
• Afno Birano
• Mero Hajur
• E Mero Hajur

You and Me

• Timi Mero Ma Timro
• Timi Matra Timi

Oh my God

• Deuta
• Bhagawan Sabaiko
• Ishwor

Not similar, it is the same

• Sindoor, Santan, Samjhana, Kusume Rumal, Chino, Kanyadaan, Yug Dekhi Yug Samma, Kasam (repeated, after 10 years of release of first movie)
• Himmat, Himmat 2
• Papi Manche, Papi Manche 2
• Kismat, Kismat 2
• Iku, Iku 2

Rhyming Names

• Nabirse Timilaai Na Paya Timilai
• Mayako Barima
• Pritiko phool
• Yo Maya Le Luna Satayo
• Mohani Lagla Hai
• Pheri Timro Yaad Aayo
• Ko Hola Mero Mayalu
• Kaha Chau Kaha
• Basama Chaina Mero Man
• Kasle Choryo Mero Man
• Parkhi Rakha Hai
• Afno Manche Afnai Hunchha
• Maya Meri Maya
• Chal Garne Mayale
• Birtako Chino
• Maya Ta Maya Ho
• Timi Mero Ma Timro
• Chodi Gaya Paap Lagla
• Nai Na Bhannu La
• Aljhechha Kyare Pachauri

Direct copy from Hindi Movies

• Sadak
• Jangbaaz
• Dhoom
• Kismat
• Hifajat
• Hangaama
• Sapoot
• Don
• Barood
• Gangajal
• Jiddi
• Abataar
• Ghayal
• Dhadkan
• Khalnayak
• Dosti
• Ilaka
• Tezab
• Takdir
• Diwanapan
• Hatkadi

English Names

• The Most Wanted
• First Love
• Just For You
• Challenge
• Gambler
• I am Sorry
• Miss U
• Mission Paisa
• Tahalka dat kam
• Love Story 2066 BS

What is seen in the movie names are – the producer/directors take the name of another movie and add or delete a word to make a new movie. In such movies, everything else is also prepared by either adding a little or removing a little from somebody else’s movies.

In other names, some are direct copy from the lyrics of popular songs. They might sound ok, but unnecessarily long names like “Nabirse Timilaai Na Paya Timilai” doesn’t sound good while talking about. See the attached poster, a lot of it’s poster real estate is filled by the name itself. Some movies sound more like an Indian movie rather than Nepali movie as they are named after Hindi movies.

For example, Hifajat, a movie produced by the top actress in Nepal, Rekha Thapa, is named after a Hindi movie. I haven’t seen the movie but one of the posters of the movie tells the whole story on how they might have made it:

What is more interesting is that every producer/director of such movies say that the movies have new story and different presentation and will appeal to the general public. When they can’t be sincere with the name, how can one expect them to be sincere with the content of the movie?

An article (link not working now) on Jenny Kunwar tells the reality – she has produced movies with names after Hindi movies. They didn’t do well and now, she has decided to stop production business.

Do the producers/directors of these movies love Nepali movies?

Is Nepali language so poor that they can’t find a decent Name in our language and they have to either copy the names from another movie, or from Indian movie, or an English movie? I don’t think so, do you?

By – Raunak and Anand