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.

Yes, most of the people who donÂ’t watch Nepali films think like that. They believe that it is the lack of technology that stops Nepali directors and producers from making a good movie. The same thing can be heard from the Nepali film makers. They often say that Nepali movies can be of international level but, lack of technology makes it impossible. A few directors who had made some successful movies have even said that they can make movies good enough to be considered for Oscar. They even ask the Government to offer them the latest technology. It seems, our film makers are doing their best but, they haven’t been able to use their full potential due to the lack of technology.

Did lack of technology stop the innovation?

I also used to believe the talk were true. It is somewhat true that, we are poor and we can’t afford the latest technology in movie making. But now, I have realized that that was a lame excuse for Nepali film makers. They were only trying to make a fool out of the viewers and get sympathy for their low-grade work.

Let me give you an example of a Hindi blockbuster movie ‘3 idiots.’ If we watch the entire movie, we can see that there is no use of so called ‘technology.’ Every Nepali production units is resourceful enough to make such movies. Who will buy the argument that the movie was made successful by the use of technology? The movie doesn’t have any animation, doesn’t have any especial effect or stunts, no foreign locations… nothing that cost a fortune to the producer. Yet the movie became super hit thanks to its story and script. Its story and acting touched the hearts of the viewers. So people liked it.

I donÂ’t think making such movie is impossible with the current resources Nepali film makers have. It is not the technology that is stopping Nepali from making such movie but it is the lack of dedication, research, and hard work that won’t let our producers make such movies in Nepal.

Our directors and producers are more interested in making "super hit movie" rather than a "good movie". That is the reason they choose shortcut method – like copying scenes, posters, scripts, stories from other successful movies from abroad. And, if someone points finger to their mistakes in their movie, they have easy and readymade excuse "Lack of Technology." Our film makers don’t want to use new concept and story in their movie. They don’t want to risk and they prefer the "time tested" old concept in their movies.

Most the Nepali movies have lousy script. I came to know that the rate of Nepali script writer starts at 20,000 and doesn’t cross 100,000 for the best script writer. I think Nepali film makers should invest more in the movie than in music launch, press conference and premiere show of movie. Only a good movie benefits from such promotional events.

Low budget movies can be successful

There are a lot of examples of low-budget, low-tech movie gaining huge success. Some of the most successful low budget movies (technology didn’t come between their production and success) are:

• Bengali film director Satyajit Ray’s most successful movie Pather Panchali (1955), was produced in Rs. 1.5 lakh using amateur cast and crew.
• A 1972 film, Deep Throat, cost only $22,500 to produce, it is rumored that the movie grossed over $600 million (the figure is disputed).
• The most successful low-budget film is considered to be 1999’s The Blair Witch Project. The movie had a budget of $60,000 but grossed over $248 million.
• The most successful movie in Bollywood, Sholay, cost only Rs. 2 crore to make. But it has created a record of being the highest grossing moves of all time.

We don’t need hi-tech movie we only need quality movies

Our film makers are still now sure why Nepali people watch Hindi and English movies. They have a feeling that Hindi and English movies are made better only because of the use of latest technology. Yes, technology is also one of the factors in producing better quality movie, but it isn’t the only decisive factor. Nepali viewers donÂ’t expect hi-tech 3D movies, or animated movies like Avatar / Spiderman or Krissh in Nepali. How about movies like 3 idiots, My name is Khan, or Slum dog Millionaire? These movies don’t need advanced technologies to make.

The film makers who can make optimum use of the available technology don’t complain on the lack of latest technologies. They work hard, find better story, write fool-proof script and remain original.