Pokhara, soaring in Film

Pokhara - Wow! What a marvellous beauty, declared young director Shyam Bhattrai, does Pokhara deserve! He further affirmed that he is beyond satisfaction while filming in Pokhara. His new film ,Maryada, is entirely going to be filmed in Pokhara, a valley of a boon of nature. Almost all the directors yarn for the filming in Pokhara let alone Bhattarai because of its mystique beauty and marvelous natural attraction. The unblemished attraction of the white Himalayas, green forest around the valley and deep lakes in the different parts have decorated Pokhara with perfect natural ornaments. Rajesh Hamal, the popular actor in the Nepali film industry asserts, 'Pokhara is equipped by all means for the filming.'

Yes, because of all these reasons film makers are hurried to this beautiful valley. Naresh Poudel, a popular film maker asserts, 'when Pokhara has become the international attraction for the filming, why not we Nepali producers focus our attention at Pokhara. He further affirms, Pokhara is easy for shooting, necessary scenes, well facilitated hotels, and even co-actors are easily available in Pokhara. And furthermore the people of Pokhara are very helpful and hospitable. Dilip Rayamajhi, an actor cum director made the last filming of his recent film Hami Sathi Vai. He is happy to have finished the 90 percent shooting of his film in Pokhara itself. In his opinion Pokhara is to be developed as the Film City.
This is not only his personal opinion; many other film makers express the same kind estimation. Though Delhi is the capital city of India; Mumbai is the main place of commotion for the film industry. Likewise, we can create Pokhara as such a place, utters Pokhara based director Ghanashyam Lamichhane, Kathmandu is only the capital but all film related the activities have been held in Pokhara even film release too.

With the dawn of this year Dewar Babu by Keshav Bhattarai, Takdeer by Sunil Kumar Thapa, Duniya by Binod Sherchan, Taxi Driver by Gaendra Ojha, Nikhil Dai by Krishna Chapagaing etc all were filmed in the Pokhara valley. To continue the tradition, many other film makers are yet to come to Pokhara. Though this beautiful valley has proved itself as the Natural Studio for the filming, the decision is yet to make to relocate all the Kolleywood activities in Pokhara.

In this context, 'because of the people involved in this sector , who talk more than the deeds', says Uttam Dwaw , the president of cine plaza Pokhara, the dream to make Pokhara the capital city of the film industry is not materialized yet. Some films are making a very good business just because they were filmed in Pokhara. Dwaw has a plan to make model of shooting spot in this valley of lakes. Almost all film makers chose Pokhara as their prime shooting spot, when they film once; they visit frequently for the same purpose. Actress Arunima Lamsal , who is in Pokhara in shooting for Maryada , expresses her extreme happiness and satisfaction for every opportunity she receives for filming in Pokhara.

The places which are useful for filming in Pokhara are Fewa Lake, Sarangkot, Devis' Falls Mahendra Cave, World Peace Strupa, Bindhyabasini Temple, Talbarahi Temple, Machhapuchhre, and the Annapurna series. Pokhara has become, says actor Nikhil Uprety, my common place. With the beginning of this year, he has come to Pokhara for filming for more than half a dozen films. Now Pokhara has become a great commotion for not only native films but for the foreign films as well. Just two years back Bangaladeshi film crew remained in Pokhara for shooting of the film Revenge for 15 days.

Likewise Thai film, To Be Love was also filmed in Pokhara, and 80 percent of the popular Bolleywood film Love in Nepal, was filmed in Pokhara too. Similarly Indian film, Isk got its 70 percent filming in Pokhara. ,br>
Ravi Aryal, cameraman of the films, Meri Aama and Purnima says that Pokhara is a real boon for filming. -Shiva Shamram