-By Sushma Amatya

Kathmandu- A local filmi bigwig was heard cursing in jest a man who confessed he had only seen one Nepali film in his life time, little knowing it takes a lot more than just watching  swadeshi films for one to declare oneself a patriot. And what with films as an art crossing all boundaries, it is nigh time Nepali film directors/producers etc realised  that they have to compete internationally if they want to attract the attention of discerning viewers. Quantity does not speak quality!

The presence of top heroes is not enough to draw in the “class” mass. Heroes (from left) Shiva Shrestha, Vijaya Lama and Bhuwan KC in film Ranko.

Not watching has its rewards, realised someone who tried to sit and watch a local movie one afternoon in a bid to educate oneself on the taste of the masses and see what the hullabaloo was all about. The person was forced to make a hasty exit after her sensibilities were visually massacred, not to mention audibly too. There is only so much suggestive jhatkas, lewd gestures, gaudy clothes, garish make up, overstated dramatisation and Indi-Nepali language that a person can take.

Not surprisingly, those who sat glued to such movies week after week start using those very words, the gestures in their conversation and also copy the way of dressing. There certainly are many better ways of influencing thousands of such simple minds!

These kinds of movies surely could have attracted the masses but if that is what attracts our audience… well, the very thought sends shivers down the spine wondering the impact of such visual and audio assault it could have on their psyches in the long run. Going by such a show, of which there are many, it seems that there really isn’t enough repertoire in our language, dress sense, dances etc. that we had to rely so heavily on borrowed cultures.  It is not so. Our vast reservoir of cultures could very well be a good source for hundreds of movies.

Sure borrowing from each other, cross-cultural mish mash are all fine but even to adapt requires a fine sense of balance that seems to be missing from these conconctions. Doling out one rehash after another to entertainment starved audience could work for sometime but that is rather irresponsible entertaining. That could be termed as insulting the audience. Some may remain ignoramus forever and lap up all that comes their way but those with a decent level of intelligence can differentiate worthwhile viewing from a worthless one.

Some believe that films have a set of formulas that have to be applied for a movie to run. Others abide by the idea that movies have a grammar that has to be stuck to. It was interesting to note not many thought of it as an art that is free to fly and experiment. An art that comes out of; deep feelings, stories that have strong roots, that appeals to human sentiments, forms that are created without having to lean on any preconceived notions.

To dare create a masterpiece, to take a risk and deviate from the known, to dare the audience to think and examine themselves and to be willing to work ones’ proverbial backs off would very well succeed in the making of a new genre of movies.

Any movie buff can tell that one develops taste with repeated exposures. The taste gets finely honed with time and then the buff can tell a good movie from a lousy one immediately. There are quite a few of them around here and they would like to see good Nepali movies.

Movies that stay with you long after the box office stopped ringing, movies that you can show  your children tomorrow as examples of good movies, movies that make dreams make true. Any takers? Good movie magic never dies, they are just rediscovered.