Source:
http://ghatanabichar.com/2011/03/what-kollywood-can-learn-from-nepali-short-movies/
Recently, a crop of Nepali short movies have appeared on Facebook, Youtube and other social networking sites. The topics range everything from patriotism and music to comedy and humor. Besides their obvious entertainment value, these short movies also highlight an important aspect. They are giving the Kollywood, Kathmandu-based movie industry, a run for their money.
Mostly based in foreign countries like United States, United Kingdom and Australia, these young and talented movie makers are proving that Nepalese too can produce quality movies. Movie professionals in Kathmandu should watch these short movies and take note on how new techniques can be utilized to produce movies that not only entertain but also enlighten.
“K Chha Kasto chha?” is one such piece. This documentary-style short movie provides the audience with a glimpse of lives of Nepali students in Oregan, United States. I am not a movie professional or technician by any means, but I could identify the excellent uses of sounds, lights and varying camera techniques that provided a natural feel to this short movie. The conversations are edited in such a way that one conversation naturally flows to another.
The use of different camera angles and natural sounds make “Passion,” another short movie, worthy-to-watch.
A thought-provoking short movie “Unhappen” stirs more patriotic sentiments than any full-length movie in Kollywood.
It is said that 90 percent of Kollywood movies are “inspired by” Bollywood. Everything from dialogues and costumes to storyline and actions are copy cat of some hit Hindi movie. But even then, Kollywood movie makers have failed to make the movies interesting and worth watching.
The “Om Shanti Om” parody video, as the name suggests, is based on a Bollywood movie by the same name. Despite having similar dialogues and actions, this short movie does something that most Kollywood movies have failed to do so far. It actually entertains us. Anybody who watches this parody is sure to laugh at the antics of the main character. Somehow, the characters don’t seem silly and provide their own interesting interpretations of the original characters.
Most of these short movies are made by young people, who are studying and working at the same time. I wonder why Kollywood professionals, whose entire job is to make movies, are unable to do similar things in Nepal.
A handful of movie makers in Nepal have tried to move away from the traditional style, but Kollywood still has a long way to go.
An argument defending Kollywood could point out that the industry makes the movies based on the level of their audience. I say, by making dumb movies they are making the audience dumber.
Also, movie makers complain that the quality of their movies cannot increase until their production budget increases. And they say, this can only happen when Nepalese head to theatres to watch Nepali movies instead of Bollywood or Hollywood movies.
What I don’t understand is how Nepali movie makers are producing one crappy movie after another when budget is an issue. This is evident due to the fact that Nepali movies have to wait months for their turn to be shown at the theatres. A movie rarely goes beyond a few weeks and another movie happily takes its place in the theatre.
Why not focus on one good movie project, instead of running around making dozens of bad ones.
All is not hopeless in Kollywood. This industry is known to make gems like “Balidan,” “Prem Pinda,” “Lahure,” “Saino,” and many more. These shining stars show that good movies can be made in Nepal if we strive to.
Final thought: Quality, not quantity, matters.
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