Only a handful of Nepali films earned big in six months, most fell short

Kathmandu, November 12 A look back at the six months shows a mixed picture of hope and disappointment at the Nepali box office. A few films earned crores of rupees, giving their producers some relief. Most failed to return their investment. The earnings of some films stayed within the lakhs, and a few made less than a lakh.

The box office figures of the Film Development Board once again expose the gap between investment and returns in the Nepali film industry. Films such as “ Lalibazar ”, “Gauthali” and “Pension Patta” did notable business. Many other films released with high expectations failed to win over audiences. The number of releases rose during this period, but commercial success did not follow.

Two or more films often opened in the same week. With a limited audience, competition between films and the size of investments, producers faced even greater commercial risk. “Lalibazar”, released on May 8, was one of the first successes of the period. According to the Film Development Board, it has grossed Rs 9.32 crore.