Kathmandu, 7 Dec: A historic record has been set in Nepali film production. For the first time ever, the highest number of film production permits has been issued this year. According to data from the Film Development Board, 70 new films received production approval by Kartik of the current fiscal year 2082/83. During the same period last year, only 51 films had received permission—an increase of nearly 37%.
Comparing the last five years, the number of approvals has almost doubled. In the same period of fiscal year 2078/79, only 36 films had been approved. Likewise, 47 films each were approved in fiscal years 2079/80 and 2080/81.
Film professionals have long said that investment in Nepali films is rising, and this data confirms their claim. The numbers show a clear upward trend in film production.
Film Development Board member and spokesperson Santosh Lohani sees the enthusiasm as a positive sign but emphasizes quality alongside quantity.
“Films now need to be made with global markets in mind, using strong marketing and original content,” he said. “Nepalis are spread across the world, so films targeting both domestic and international audiences should aim for higher quality. If films increase only in number without quality, it will harm the industry.”
Lohani warned that producing more films without strong storytelling, originality, and quality could be detrimental to Nepali cinema.
Industry Voices: Opportunities and Challenges
Film professionals are divided in their views. The registration of 70 films within four months has added excitement to the industry, and stakeholders believe this surge will help promote Nepali stories, arts, and culture.
Mohan Niraula, President of the Film Artists Association, sees the rise in permits as a positive development. According to him, film markets and commercial performance have both improved.
“This shows the industry is moving in a positive direction. Last year’s films performed well at the box office, boosting producers’ confidence and investment,” he said. “The films currently running are also doing well, which is encouraging.”
Niraula expressed happiness that the industry—previously slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquakes—has regained momentum. Increased production, he said, directly impacts employment for locals, technicians, and artists involved in shooting.
However, actor and producer Nawal Khadka, former president of the Film Producers Association, sees the surge as a challenge.
Quality vs. Quantity: A Growing Concern
Khadka warns that the sharp rise in production permits is becoming like a “flood” in filmmaking.
“A couple of films doing well doesn’t mean everyone should rush into production. This trend can mislead people and drown them financially,” he said.
He argues that more films mean more competition for limited screening slots.
“When three to four films clash on the same date, producers suffer,” he explained.
Khadka pointed out that only about eight to ten films per year actually recover their investment.
“If more than 100 films are released annually, 90% of them are bound to fail,” he added.
From a qualitative perspective, Khadka fears the trend will hurt the industry.
“Only a few will earn or break even. Looking at box office patterns, most films will sink,” he said. According to him, the focus should be on quality, not quantity.
While more films may temporarily create jobs for actors and technicians, Khadka says it offers only short-term relief.
“In the long run, if producers keep losing money, filmmaking itself may come to a halt. Without producers, who will make films?” he asked. He insists that the priority should be to protect producers and promote fewer but higher-quality films.
