A twelfth grade student at Kathmandu Model College, Baghbazzar, Shreya likes the fact that, during that class everyone is engaged in active discussions and unlike any other subjects this one talk of the media, especially films.[break]
“Last month we spent 3 classes talking only about the film Loot,” she shares. A movie enthusiast, she spends a lot of time not just watching films but also in their criticism. “I think watching and discussing films are an essential part of studies, there are so many instances when a film has explained things in a much easier manner than a book,” Shreya shares.
Her class holds regular film criticism sessions based on the belief that films are one most powerful means of communication.
Asked what she feels, as a student, on the recent decision made by the Film Development Board (FDB) to put a ban on film shows before 11 am at theaters nationwide, she retorts with a sigh.
The Board declared in its press release that, the decision was made with the intent to “prevent bunking” and for “the betterment of the future of the Nepali youth.”
“I’d like to tell them on behalf of all my fellow mates that, nobody bunks school to watch films, as a matter of fact going to the cinema is only a small part of bunking, and we strongly believe films don’t ruin our future,” asserts Shreya.
At a time when art, especially cinema has been accepted as the most powerful means of communication the decision made by the Film Development Board comes across as a shock. It not only seems that the Board is unaware of the power of cinema but also ignorant towards the slowly emerging market of Nepali films.
It is also ironic that the Board which should be working towards the welfare of the industry is banning shows. Does it means that the Board, like some people, thinks that films and watching them is wrong and something to appall?
Let’s take for instance “Kony 2012” a film about Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. The 29-minute film has been watched by more than 100 million people and become the fastest spreading video ever, and such is the power of cinema today.
The film woke the world to to mayhem committed by the Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army, including kidnapping of children and forcing them to fight for his army.
Prawin Takki Karki, documentary filmmaker and a teacher believes cinema encourages the youth to explore and barring them from watching it laying out an obstacle in their over all development.
He says, “Cinema teaches, encourages and inspires.” He recalls being shown films like Seema Rekha and Basanti during his school days in Dipendra Police Boarding, Belchautara, Tanahu.
“Those films helped a lot in our social studies course,” he shares. And because he found the technique so interesting he does the same with his students.
He held a screening of the Hindi film ‘Taare Zameen Paar’ on parent’s day. “I think the film said much more than I possibly could,” says Prawin.
However, Yuvraj Sharma, CEO Himalayan WhiteHouse International College and General Secretary of the Higher Secondary School Association Nepal, (HISAN) supports the FDB’s decision. He says it’s not only the cinema halls that need to be shut, “We want a similar closure on discos and party venues,” he says.
As far as the budding Nepali film industry is concerned he believes they have nothing to worry. “The students who bunk classes hardly watch Nepali films,” he claims.
Amir Joshi, 22 believes the decision of the board is “downright dumb.” A Media Management student at Kathmandu University, he says the decision discourages the aspiring filmmakers and the budding film industry.
“I am shocked and angry,” he says adding “It’s only been a few months that the urban Nepali youth started talking of Nepali and they are already declaring banns.”
Amir is especially sad because his classes usually begin at 11. “Our group has always watched morning shows because classes take up the whole day and by evening we are exhausted,” he shares.
Another facet to the issue the FDB failed to recognize is that similar to Amir’s not all colleges run classes in the mornings. Is the next decision going to be putting a ban on daytime shows too?
What needs to be cleared out here is that students watching morning shows are not solely because they are bunking classes but also because the tickets for the shows come cheap. “Not everyone can afford to pay hundreds for single show,” Amir says.
“We are not ignorant towards the power of cinema, or that there are day time colleges” clarifies Nilhari Kafle, Board Member of FDB adding, “We have made this decision on several requests from Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization (PABSON) and the National Private and Boarding Schools Association of Nepal (NPABSON).”
He says the decision made by the Board comes after several incidents of students being caught at the cinema at particularly morning shows. “The parents association has asked us to do,” he clarifies.
Rajendra Sapkota, 24 a cinematography graduate from Oscar College takes the FDB’s decision as an infringement on human rights. “You can’t stop me from eating, sleeping or watching films when I want to,” he states. Rajendra not only dejects the prohibition but is thinking of staging a protest. “I think the decision not only offends the movie goers but also the makers,” he says.
Responding to the claims that film makers are protesting against the Board’s decision Kafle says, it’s not the film makes but the exhibitors who seem offended.
He further says, “There will be a discussion program held on the topic within a few days time and if the film halls agree on not selling tickets to those in school or college uniform we are ready to make amendments to the decision.”
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