Sujata Sitaula

The field of movies or the movie industry is a luring one; one can gain name and fame in a short period of time. At the same time, it is also an industry that does not provide a person with a long lasting future. Especially, if you are an actress, the maximum amount of years that you can work is about fifteen years. Well, if you do not mind playing a character role then your age in the movie industry can increase, as well. This may not be as truer in Hollywood, as it is in the Hindi and Nepali movie industries. Despite the setback, many young women try their luck in Nepali films every year. One of the newest young women to enter the field is Sujata Sitaula.

            She started her film career, recently with her debut movie, Pal Palma. Having said this, she is not new to the entertainment field; she is an established model. Because of her exposure to the glamour field, it can be said that it was not difficult for her to play a bold role in the movie. However, it is a feat for a young and new actress to take such a courageous step. It is not often thought very kindly, when an actress exposes herself in front of the camera. Other than that, her acting skills could also be seen in the movie with an ease of manner. To play a rich client of a call boy is not an easy task, and Sujata Sitaula has been commended for the job. Likewise, her chemistry with Ramit Dhungana was much talked about in the Nepali entertainment news. The bed scene between the two was hyped, as well as used in the movie promos.

            It is difficult for many actresses to shed their initial image once that has been established. Therefore, it is always necessary to pick and choose the film roles. Nonetheless, Sujata Sitaula may not have to look back; she bagged role in Dilip Rayamajhi’s Miss U.  Likewise, she is all set to be cast in director, Ukesh Dahal’s, who happens to be her first director, Kina Kina. It is not yet known, what kind of roles she has got in both the films. However, it can be expected that she is going to prove her acting skills, as she has proven her attractiveness. Beauty can only take you so far; it is the performance that counts the most, and is remembered for a long time.

            The Nepali film industry is fortunate that it is becoming a choice for young people, when most young urbanites do not even watch Nepali movies. We wish Sujata Sitaula all the best to survive in the movie industry, and grace the silver screen.

Trailers of new Nepali movies

An important feature of film making is to draw the mass or the targeted audience, to the movie halls, to watch the film. It is helpful to have a grand team of actors working for you, and also the top technical side with you. Also, for Hindi and Nepali cinema it is required to make public the music of the movie, before the movie is released. It is likewise a requirement to make a promo that makes the viewers yearn for the movie. A promo is prepared by including a small number of scenes, back ground music and songs, if likely, from a film, as a source of promoting the movie.                                                                   It is not an easy task to select scenes that does not give away a great deal about the entire film, but still stimulates the audience, which I have seen to be the crisis in Nepali movie trailers. Most of the trailers for Nepali movies are alike; they do not have a new idea or feature that can engage the viewers. There is time and again whining that all Nepali movies are identical, and you cannot find fault with the people criticizing as the trailers have not anything novel to present, as well. Only some of the trailers of new Nepali movies, akin to Sano Sansar (A small world), Mero Euta Saathi Cha (I have a friend), First love, have been exciting, which thrilled the young people to observe the film.

Nowadays, many trailers of new Nepali movies feature a promotional song. The song is usually not included in the movie, but is attractive enough. Similarly, many films have attractive snap shots, which do not reveal much of the movie. However, they generate curiosity in people, and this increases the first day attendance to the movie halls. The sad thing is that, not all movie trailers are like this. Many trailers have the usual songs and scenes, which do not excite the trendy audience, who are apt in watching Hindi and Hollywood movies. They need something exciting, new and mind boggling to go to a movie hall. This is why; there is more audience attraction towards world cinema than the local production.                                                                                                                 It is felt that there is a lack of creative and new talent in the movie industry, regarding the creation of movie trailers. This may sound like a small deal, but unless you can promote your movie by convincing the audience that your movie needs to be seen, the movie cannot fare well. As a Nepali movie lover, who has not had a chance to watch a decent Nepali movie for years, I wish that the film producers are serious about creating well made trailers, to attract people from all backgrounds.

Nepali cinema getting better and better

When the first film was made, nobody had thought it to be a global phenomenon. This is to say that no one had mulled over the fact that movies could make a difference in an individual’s life, in a society, or even internationally. Today, this is what a movie can do; it can bring about revolutionary changes, be it small or big.  It is also good to note that movies are no longer just made in Hollywood; they are made the world over. They are not only made around the world, but also marketed around the world. In one way or the other, movies are a means to share cultures and ideas of places. Similarly, they are also the tool to engage people and make them think, not excluding the entertainment value.

            You may wonder, what about Nepali movies? Are Nepali movies up to par, are they making a difference in people’s lives? Are they engaging and making people think? For the most part, the answer comes in negation; most critics, as well as the urban audience think that Nepali movies are all the same. They have the same storyline, same actors, similar action sequence, and the same dance routines. This is not an untrue feeling, but it is also not hundred percent true. There are Nepali film makers, whose main target audiences are the people that want to be entertained. They do not care as much about the storyline, or the actors; all they want is the value for their money. This does not encourage the filmmaker, or the actors to perform extraordinarily. Now, there are other film makers, who want to explore and expand. Their target audiences are the people, who want to be engaged and appreciate great performance.

            To prove this point, some of the movie names should be listed. The name of these Nepali movies resonate the rich film making history and the future. Maitighar, Basudev, Prem Pinda, Basanti, Kusume Rumal, Samjhana, Lahure, Dakshina, Mukundo, Chameli, Dus Gaja, Das Dhunga, Pal Palma, First Love, and so on. Most young people have never watched the first ten, or so movies in the list. These movies were made in the 1980s and the early 1990s; they need to watch these movies before they criticize the Nepali film industry. They are unaware of the fact that we have as talented film makers, actors, musicians, other technicians, as in other film industry. The other five Nepali movies are of this generation, and are of great stature.

            It is necessary to love and appreciate our goodness, and then only can we treat our badness. Unless we care about the good Nepali movies, we have no right to talk about the bad movies. Therefore, it is better to see the Nepali film industry with both eyes, and suggest it to move forward.