Cornelius R at 16:16, 14 February 2026

2026-02-14T16:16:31Z

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{{Infobox cinema market
| name = Cinema of Nepal<br>({{langx|ne|नेपाली चलचित्र}})
| image = Nepali Cinema.svg
| alt =
| caption = Cinema of Nepal
| screens = 450<ref
name="screens_uis">{{cite web|url=http://therisingnepal.org.np/news/2971|title=Nepal Screens|publisher=therisingnepal.org|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-date=19 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219185214/http://therisingnepal.org.np/news/2971|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| screens_per_capita = 0.2 per 100,000 (2001)<ref name="screens_uis" />
| produced_year = 2016
| produced_ref =
| produced_total = 100<ref
name="screens_uis"/>
| produced_fictional =
| produced_animated =
| produced_documentary =
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}}
{{South Asian cinema}}

'''Nepali Cinema''', also referred to as "''Nepali Chalachitra''" ({{langx|ne|नेपाली चलचित्र}}) is the [[Film industry|filmmaking industry]] in [[Nepal]]. This includes films in various languages of Nepal, most notably in Nepali language but also in [[Newar language|Newari]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Tamangic languages|Tamang]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] and [[Tharu languages|Tharu]] among others. The term '''''Cinemandu''''' is also used, as a [[portmanteau]] for films produced in the Nepali language while the Nepalese films produced from [[Kathmandu]] and [[Janakpur, Nepal|Janakpur]] in the Maithili language is known as ''[[Maithili Cinema|Mithilawood]]''. Both of these film industries are the largest viewing cinema of Nepal and are collectively known as '''Nepali Cinema.''' <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/07/nepal-film-industry-looks-beyond-bollywood-2014714104224592144.html|title=Nepal's film industry looks beyond Bollywood|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=26 April 2017}}</ref>

==History==
The making of Nepalese films is said to have begun with D.B. Pariyar's ''Satya Harishchandra'', which was the first Nepali-language movie to be shot. It was produced in [[Kolkata, India]], and released on 14 September 1951. ''[[Aama (1964 film)|Aama]]'' (mother) was the first film produced in Nepal and was released on 7 October 1964. It was produced by the Information Department of His Majesty's Government of Nepal (now [[Government of Nepal]] (GoN)).

The first film to be produced under a private banner was ''[[Maitighar]]'', which was released at the end of 1966.

The Nepal government established the Royal Nepal Film Corporation in 1971. ''Mann Ko Bandh'' was the first film produced by the corporation.

''[[Paral Ko Aago]]'' was produced by Cinema in 1978. The music director [[Shanti Thatal]] became the first female music director in Nepali movies.

===Golden era===
With the start of the 1980s, more films were being made and they were more accepted by Nepalese audiences. ''Badlindo Aakash'', ''[[Samjhana]]'', ''[[Kusume Rumal]]'', ''[[Lahure (film)|Lahure]]'', ''[[Kanchhi]]'', ''Basudev'', ''[[Saino]]'' and ''Koseli'' were released between 1984 and 1993. The leading actors were [[Bhuwan K.C.]] and [[Tripti Nadakar]], whose on-screen chemistry saw them being dubbed the "golden couple" of the industry. In the later years of the decade, the industry saw the rise of [[Rajesh Hamal]] and [[Karishma Manandhar]].

In 1990, the film industry began to grow rapidly. There was an unprecedented growth in the number of productions. Within three years, some 140 films were made. Cinemas increased to more than 300.

===Conflict era===
Because of the [[Nepalese Civil War|Maoist insurgency]] in Nepal in the mid-1990s a very small number of films were made, and audience numbers fell sharply. In the later years after the conflict, the production and release of Nepali films had almost come to a standstill. Many actors and filmmakers left the country in search for work abroad. Actors like Saroj Khanal, [[Shiva Shrestha (actor)|Shiva Shrestha]], [[Karishma Manandhar]], [[Tripti Nadakar]], Kristi Mainali and [[Gauri Malla]] had little work.

In 2000–2001, the then-highest-grossing Nepali film ''[[Darpan Chaya]]'' and 'Jindagani' were made.

===2006–present===
By 2006, as the situation in Nepal calmed down and with [[Maoist]]s coming into mainstream politics, the Nepali film industry started to return to its previous state, and more films were being made and released. This period also marked the commencement of digital films in the industry.

In December 2016, ''[[Bijuli Machine]]'', Nepal's first science-fiction film with a social story was released and ran successfully in cinemas.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/news/10943|title=Bijuli Machine: a new practice in Nepali movie|newspaper=My Republica|access-date=22 December 2016}}</ref> The movie was directed and written by [[Navin Awal]] with [[Santosh Lamichhane]] as a scientific consultant.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://awaken-nepal.com/bijuli-machine-nepali-science-fiction-movie/|title=Bijuli Machine- Nepali science fiction movie - Awaken Nepal|date=22 November 2016|newspaper=Awaken Nepal|language=en-US|access-date=22 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cinelahar.com/bijuli-machine-first-nepali-sci-fi-movie-trailer/|title=Bijuli Machine - first Nepali Sci-Fi movie ? watch trailer - Nepali movies|website=cinelahar.com|access-date=22 December 2016|archive-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223063723/http://cinelahar.com/bijuli-machine-first-nepali-sci-fi-movie-trailer/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> It was reported that the movie set a trend in Nepali films by a making a movie with a low budget, without an item song, stereotypical fights or a romantic story, rather with an authentic Nepali story inspired by the problems faced in the society, like electricity power cuts, and still succeeded to entertain the audience.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/news/18218/|title=Year 2073: Year of large collection in Nepali Movie|work=My Republica|access-date=26 April 2017|language=en}}</ref>

''[[The Legend of Shankhadhar]]'' is reported to be the first animated Nepali film.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/news/8546/|title=First Nepali animated movie screened in London|work=My Republica|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thehimalayantimes.com/entertainment/nepals-first-animated-movie-screened-london/|title=Nepal's first animated movie screened in London|website=thehimalayantimes.com|date=4 November 2016|access-date=10 June 2017}}</ref>

==Film Development Board==
The [[Film Development Board]] is a liaison to facilitate the conceptualization, making, distribution and exhibition of Nepali films.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-03-19/nepali-movie-industry-ready-to-step-up-ghimire.html|title=Nepali movie industry ready to step up: Ghimire|access-date=26 April 2017|language=en}}</ref>
==See also==
{{Category see also|Nepalese films| Nepalese directors|Nepalese actresses|Nepalese actors}}
* [[List of Nepalese films]]
* [[List of highest-grossing Nepali films]]
* [[List of most expensive Nepali films]]
* [[National Film Awards (Nepal)]]
;More general article
* [[Cinema of the world]]
* [[List of Nepal Bhasa films]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.film.gov.np Film Development Board of Nepal]

{{Cinema of Nepal}}
{{Worldcinema}}
{{Asia in topic|Cinema of}}
{{Nepali language}}

[[Category:Cinema of Nepal| ]]
[[Category:Culture of Nepal]]
[[Category:Arts in Nepal]]

Cinema of Nepal - Revision history

Cornelius R at 16:16, 14 February 2026