National Film Day: Veteran Artists Remember Struggles and Changed Days
Manisha Basnet / Akanksha Dhami, Nepal News Bank
Kathmandu. National Film Day is being celebrated today (Thursday). This day is celebrated by remembering the contribution of senior artists, directors, technicians and production team in the Nepali film industry.
Film Day is also taken as a celebration as it takes Nepali original stories, language, culture and identity to the country and abroad through films. National Film Day is being celebrated on September 30 to mark the release of Nepal’
s first film ‘Aama’.
On the occasion of
day, senior artists of the film industry shared their experiences about their struggles in the film industry, changes in technology, acting of the new generation and the love of the audience.
Senior artist Basundhara Bhusal said that Film Day is not only a day of artists but also of the audience. She stressed on the need to celebrate Film Day in a grand way.
She said, “This day belongs not only to all of us filmmakers but also to the audience.” When Dinesh DC was the chairman of the Film Development Board, he organized a festival called ‘Old is Gold’. She said that Film Day is like a big festival for Nepali filmmakers. “Film Day is like a big festival for filmmakers. I have been continuously active since 2021 and I have been active since ‘Aama’. Being a full-time filmmaker, I feel that the day should be celebrated. Bhusal said that there has been a big change in film production now due to technology. According to him, there was a situation of working on 35 mm to 16 mm and 17 mm. Now digital technology has made film production much easier.
But the basic aspect of acting is the same, he says. “Acting is the same. The old and the new, crying, talking and laughing while crying, are not different, but technically they are very different,” Bhusal said. Recalling that they have made a place in the film industry by struggling a lot, she said that the love she has received from the audience now is the result of past struggles.
‘I have come to this place after a lot of struggle. We have endured a lot of beatings and admonitions. We have not come away easily. We have received the same applause and love now as we used to abuse before,” she said.
She urged the new generation of artists to adopt discipline, perseverance and patience. She suggested that one should be restrained even when the film is a hit or a flop.
‘You should not be very fussy about a film being a hit and crying that the film flopped. You have to go to a level,” she said.
She said that the film has given her identity and she has taken the audience as the main basis of her success.
Similarly, Bhuwan Chand, the first actress of Nepali cinema, said that the film day is like Dashain festival for the artists. Chand said that she celebrates the day with pride. “We feel the day as a celebration and pride. We are busy in the morning,” she said.
She said that there has been a lot of change in the old and present film industry. Chand praised the new generation saying that today’s artists enter the field of acting after training and studying.
‘In our time, there was no opportunity to learn. We had to do whatever we did or what the director said. Now they come after teaching and learning, that is, they come after brainstorming and acting. Good actors have come now,” she said.
Recalling that she started her acting career with drama, Chand said that she entered the acting career with Bal Krishna Sama’s play ‘Andhaveg’. She also recalled that in her time, society looked at art differently.
‘At that time, it was customary to understand the art of dancing and singing. They were not considered good even in the family. Those times were different. But now they want their children to become artists,” Chand said.
Similarly, comedian Manoj Acharya said that he has worked in the film industry for 48 years. He recalled that he started acting with radio dramas.
He said, “I have also worked in films for 48 years. I have worked a lot in films. It has been 48 years since I have been in the art journey. Hari Prasad Rimal taught art through radio plays. I started acting in the year 2034/35. It continues till today.” Acharya said that while celebrating Film Day, one should also remember the old artists and films. He recalled that filmmaking of his time was very difficult. “It was very difficult in our time. We had to get reels from outside, shoot films, rehearse and face the camera. Cameras had to be brought from India. Reels and cameramen used to come from outside,” he said.
Acharya said that film production has become much faster and easier due to technology. Acharya said that good films are being made in the Nepali film industry in recent times and wished for continuous progress.
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