KATHMANDU: Nepali filmmakers have lined up big-budget productions and popular franchises for release during Dashain and Tihar to capitalize on the extended holiday season and draw larger audiences to theaters.
Seven films are scheduled to hit theaters around Dashain, while three more have set release dates for Tihar. With several big-ticket releases arriving in theaters within days of one another, competition is heating up at the box office.
12 Gaun 2 and Aa Bata Aama 2 hit theaters on Friday, while Deepak-Deepa’s Chha Maya Chhapakkai 2 was released on Phulpati, which fell on Saturday. Rambabu Gurung’s Kabaddi 5 is set to release this coming Friday, two days before the Dashain festival ends. Similarly, Pariwar is set to release on October 30.
Meanwhile, Tunnel 26 and Akshara hit theaters on October 9.
Paanch Pandav, Maya Bhane Kai Yasto Hola and Zero Degree are all scheduled to release on November 6, one day before the Tihar holidays begin.
The festival season has become a major commercial window for Nepal’s film industry in recent years.
“Releasing films during Dashain has become increasingly common in recent years. This was not much of a tradition in the past,” film analyst Samipya Raj Timalsena said.
According to Timalsena, the practice gained momentum over the past 15 to 20 years as Kathmandu’s population grew and cinema became a popular form of entertainment for people staying in the capital during the holidays.
The extended break gives audiences more opportunities to visit theaters, making the period attractive to filmmakers and investors seeking to maximize returns, he added.
Films generally open on Fridays around the world to capitalize on the weekend, with producers hoping to recoup their investments in the first three days. Dashain, however, offers a holiday period lasting more than 10 days, providing a longer window to attract moviegoers.
Most of the films being released during Dashain are sequels. 12 Gaun 2, Aa Bata Aama 2, Chha Maya Chhapakkai 2 and Kabaddi 5 are all follow-ups to films that made a mark in the Nepali film industry.
The release schedules of 12 Gaun 2, starring Samir Bhatt, and Chha Maya Chhapakkai 2, produced by the popular Deepak-Deepa duo, have raised the prospect of a direct contest for audiences. Kabaddi 5, featuring Dayahang Rai, is also entering theaters during the same holiday period.
However, filmmakers say films from different genres can coexist without necessarily hurting one another at the box office. 12 Gaun 2 is an action film, Chha Maya Chhapakkai 2 is a comedy, and the Kabaddi franchise is rooted in rural settings and social relationships.
Kabaddi 5 director Gurung said he had revived the franchise in response to audience demand, even though the fourth installment had been presented as “The Final Match.”
“Releasing several films in many theaters during the holidays does not necessarily hurt business,” Gurung said. “We, too, are trying to benefit from the Dashain season, and there is no reason to hesitate to say so.”
A crowded release calendar, however, does not guarantee box-office success for every film. Of the seven films released during last year’s Dashain period, only three reportedly recovered their investments. 12 Gaun earned around Rs 200 million, while Chhakka Panja 5 grossed more than Rs 150 million. Jwai Saab also recovered its investment, while the other releases failed to achieve similar results.
Timalsena said a film’s quality mattered more than the timing of its release.
“No matter how favorable the release window is, success depends on how well a film is made,” he said. “Whether it comes from a big or small production house, a good film can succeed.”
