Kathmandu – Continuous rain, flooding, and landslides over the past few days have severely affected Nepal’s entertainment sector, causing millions in financial losses for film producers. However, with no rain reported in major cities like Kathmandu on Sunday, the film industry sees hope for a resurgence.
A team of actors, including Nischal Basnet and Vijay Baral, was stranded on the highway due to landslides while promoting the film Behuli from Meghauli in Chitwan. Similarly, a group from the Shilpi Theatre heading to Kathmandu was stuck on the road for an extended period due to landslides in the Nagdhunga area.
Producers of the film Sano Sansar have announced the postponement of its screening starting Sunday due to the rains, stating they plan to re-release the film at a more suitable time. Additionally, the set for Pradeep Khadka’s film Eklo in Chyasal was flooded, damaging the materials and resulting in significant losses for the producers. Just days prior, the film’s shooting set in Mustang was also swept away by floods.
The ongoing shooting of the South Indian film Jack in Kathmandu has been halted for two consecutive days, placing a substantial financial burden on its producers. Furthermore, remaining shoots for the popular Nepali film Chhakka Panja 5 have also been postponed due to the rain.
Senior film technician Santu Tamang’s house in Kavre was destroyed by the floods and landslides, resulting in considerable personal and professional losses for him.
This year’s rain has affected not only the film industry but also audience attendance. The openings of films like Sano Sansar and Aankha were impacted, leading to lower audience turnout in theaters. The Indian film Devra, which was released in Nepal on Saturday, also saw fewer viewers than expected. In the Bhaktapur area, flooding forced the closure of the QFX cinema hall located on the upper floor of the Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket.
Due to the incessant rains, several promotional events and press conferences for various films have also been postponed.
