“We´ve been suffering from this problem since decades. But the problem is becoming more severe in recent years,” said Rajkumar Rai, chairman of Nepal Motion Picture Producers´ Association (NMPPA).[break]
Rai said piracy of Nepali movies increased by nearly 90 percent after the film exhibitors began exhibiting the films through Digital Projection (DP) system.
“Piracy was not that easy when movies used to be exhibited through print system,” Rai said, adding, “Film making and exhibition may be easier and qualitative through DP system, but there is a bigger risk of piracy.”
Rai further said movies like ´Mero Euta Saathi Cha´, ´Silsila´, ´Kasam Hajurko´ and ´Bato Muni Ko Phool´ among others surprisingly failed financially, though they were liked by Nepali viewers. “All these films were produced and exhibited through digital technology,´ he added. Rai further said piracy has grown to the extent that copies of movies are made when they are being exhibited at theaters itself. “Only a few investors would be able to recover their investment, if the practice goes unchecked,” he added.
Actor and filmmaker Shree Krishna Shrestha said piracy has affected financial results of comparatively successful and qualitative films. “It needs a huge investment and hard work to produce a fine movie. But the move is pirated and sold illegally before the producers could recover their investment,” Shrestha lamented.
Yash Kumar, the producer of ´Bato Muni Ko Ful´, said his movie failed financially even though it received accolades from viewers. “The movie was pirated when it was being exhibited in theaters,” he added.
“Why would one visit theaters when they can easily get DVD at a cheaper price?”
He said the film with the investment of Rs 13.3 million could collect only about 50 percent of its investment.
“We had plans to screen the movie in some 18 cities across the world. But before we could embark on foreign trips, the DVD of our film had already entered the international market,” he added. Kumar blamed weak laws and ineffective policy of the government behind ill-practices like these in Nepali movie industry. He also producers were not eager about putting money in Nepali movie industry due to piracy.
Chabi Ojha - a leading film producer - said professional filmmakers like him are not putting money in the industry due to unhindered piracy. “Piracy has reduced earning of a movie by as much as 50 percent,” he added.
Related story
Europeans threaten to limit Belarus air traffic after ‘state pi...
