KATHMANDU, Oct 1: Nepali cinema halls have decided to stop showing Hindi films from Monday. The decision comes a few days after CPN-Maoist decided to ban screening of Hindi movies across the country.
Multiplex operator QFX has decided to close all its theaters indefinitely from Monday. “We have decided to close all our theaters from Monday,” Basanta Manandhar, distribution manager of QFX, told Republica. “We are forced to close our theaters because we do not have any quality Nepali movie right now.”[break]
QFX operates QFX Jainepal in Hattisar, QFX Kumari in Kamalpokhari and QFX Central at Civil Mall, Sundhara. Another multiplex, BigCinemas, however, another multiplex, Big Cinemas at City Center, will operate with only one theater from Monday.
“We will close two of our theaters for an indefinite period. In one theater, we will be showing Nepali movie Facebook,” said Bharat Singh, country manager of Big Cinemas. “We will have to face a huge loss if we are not allowed to show Hindi movies,” Singh said without disclosing the loss amount.
Gwarko-based Guna Cinemas has not decided whether it would show Nepali movies or close all its theaters. “We will decide by Monday morning,” Shambhu Sitaula, marketing manager of Guna Cinemas, said.
Gopi Krishna Movies, however, plans to open all its theaters. “We won´t close the theaters; we will show Nepali movies in our six theaters,” Pradeep Dahal, manager of Gopi Krishna Movies, said.
One theater of Gopi Krishna Movies is currently undergoing maintenance.
Cinema operators have said the ban on screening of Hindi movies will create a huge loss to them. They say all the theaters will eventually shut down if the decision is not withdrawn.
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