BBC Interview with Minister of Supplies on Oil Price Hikes

BBC's Ms. Rama Parajuli interviews Minister of Commerce and Supplies Mr. Lekh Raj Bhatta on the impact of recent hikes in prices of petroleum products on 25-Jan-2012.

BBC Discussion on Opaqueness of Finances of Nepal's Political Parties

BBC's Mr. Narayan Shrestha moderates a public discussion on opaqueness of finances of Nepal's political parties with Mr. Agni Sapkota (Maoist), Mr. Nara Hari Acharya (NC) and Ghan Shyam Bhusal (UML) in Uppwalachowr in Baglung district.

BBC Discussion on Revenue Collection & Tax Avoidance

BBC Nepali Service's Mr. Sanjay Dhakal moderates a discussion on revenue collection and tax avoidance in Nepal with Mr. Krishna Hari Baskota (Ministry of Finance), Mr. Pradip Man Vaidya (FNCCI) and Mr. Komal Prokash Ghimire (Tax Specialist) on December 11, 2010.

BBC Discussion on the State of Nepali Movie Industry

BBC Nepali Service's Mr. Narayan Shrestha moderates a discussion with Mr. Nir Shah (actor), Mr. Amar Gurung (Chairman of Nepal Film Development Board) and Ms. Rekha Thapa (Actress-Producer) on October 24, 2010.

This is very interesting, informative and entertaining discussion.

The most interesting quote is Mr. Nir Shah's comment that he cannot watch his own movies because they are "not watchable" i.e. they are bad. When asked why he still acts, he says that's because its his profession (comments @ 20 minutes).

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Kollywood turnover crosses Rs 350m
myrepublica, 5-Sep-10
ASHOK THAPA

With the restoration of peace and efforts of new production houses to cater to the taste of a new segment of viewers, the Nepali film industry witnessed a robust expansion in its market, generating handsome returns in Fiscal Year 2009/10.

According to Rajkumar Rai, the chairman of Nepal Motion Picture Producers´ Association (NMPPA), the industry drew investments of Rs 295 million during the year. Rai also estimated that the Nepali film industry made a profit of Rs 59 million during the year.

The year was also marked by Nepali filmmakers unveiling projects with aggressive budgets that aimed at entertaining viewers with ´new´ technologies going digital in filming and sound.

Movies like “Mero Euta Saathi Chha”, “Kahan Bhetiela”, “Hifajat” and “Chhodi Gaye Paap Lagla” were produced with investments of around Rs 8 million each, whereas a big budget film in the past meant investment of only around Rs 6 million.

Thanks to it, popular actors and actresses witnessed unexpected rise in their remunerations as well.

Actors like Biraj Bhatta and Aryan Sigdel, Jharana Thapa, Rekha Thapa and Sanchita Luitel, among others, enjoyed even up to 200 percent rises in their signing amount, a film industry insider who requested anonymity told myrepublica.com. In previous years, they used to get between Rs 150,000 and Rs 200,000 per film.

This is an encouraging turnaround and reflects a revival of confidence in the industry, something which was lost during the later years of conflict, commented industry analysts.

Records of NMPPA show that 59 motion pictures passed the censor test during the year. Of them, 20 films enjoyed business throughout the country, while another 23 were released only within the Kathmandu Valley.

That is not all. The Film Development Board registered 229 films, including 84 celluloid, 80 digital, and 65 short movies. A majority of them are yet to make their way to theaters.

“Compare this eagerness to produce movies with the previous year, and you will know how the situation has turned in the industry,” said NMPPA Vice President and Spokesperson Pradeep Uday.

In Fiscal Year 2008/09, producers registered just 187 movies, including 102 celluloid and digital and 85 short movies.

Uday credits this robust rise in investment to the entry of ´new, energetic and professional´ filmmakers, expansion of the market and economic returns making promises to deliver.

Producers told myrepublica.com that films with high budget not only took the standard of Nepali movie to a new level, but also enjoyed good returns. It was not just the big productions that made money this time, small-budget movies like “Kahan Chhau Kahah” and “Batuli” also reaped in high profits. Their producers declined to disclose returns though.

Rai said that most of the films with innovative concepts pertaining to youths and social issues made exceptional turnover. “Issues like love and friendship portrayed in films like ´Mero Euta Sathi Chha´ even added new segment of viewers to the industry,” he said.

Although filmmakers did not cite any figures, they were unanimous that the volume of viewers of Nepali movies itself had grown magically with the production of youth-appealing movies like ´Mero Euta Sathi Chha´.

Otherwise, total viewers of Nepali movies were estimated to stand just at around 2 percent of the country´s population, and a large segment of elites, particularly in Kathmandu, were never attracted to it.

As usual, the social love story of “Kahan Bhetiela” and the action and thrills of “Hifajat” too appealed to audiences in every nook and corner of the country.

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BBC Discussion with the current & former Vice-Chairs of the National Planning Commission

BBC Nepali Service's Mr. Narayan Shrestha moderates a discussion with Mr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, current Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) and Pitamber Sharma, a former Vice-Chair of the NPC on November 7, 2010.

This discussion sheds lights on the inner workings of economic planning and implementation at the highest level of Nepal's government. The bottom line is that domestic politics and donors agenda over-rides the technocratic views of the NPC or the real economic needs of the people. Mr. Sharma even quotes the Godfather ("make an offer they can't refuse") to illustrate the position of the NPC within the economic planning hierarchy of the country.

BBC Nepali Service Discussion Politics in Hydropower Development

BBC Nepali Service's Mr. Surendra Phuyal moderates discussion between Kantipur's Bikas Thapa and Maoist CA member Mr. Hari Rokka as to why there is so much politicization in hydropower develoment in Nepal on June 12, 2010.

BBC Nepali Service Discussion on MRP Controversy

BBC Nepali Service's Ms. Rama Parajuli talks with PM's spokesman Mr. Bishnu Risal and Republica's reporter Mr. Kiran Chapagai on April 10, 2010 about the political controversy surrounding giving contracts to print Machine Readable Passport (MRP) to India.

Here is the timeline of events.

BBC Nepali Service Discussion on Internet Development in Nepal

BBC Nepali Service's Mr. Sanjaya Dhakal moderates a discussion on internet development in Nepal with CAN's Secretary Mr. Binod Dhakal and High level Commission for Information Technology's Secretary Mr. Juddha Bahadur Gurung on March 27, 2010.

BBC Nepali Service Discussion on Load Shedding

BBC Nepali Service's Mr. Naryan Shrestha moderates a discussion on power shortage and load-shedding with Energy Minister Mr. Prakash Sharan Mahat (प्रकाशशरण महत), Maoist CA member Mr. Hari Rokka (हरि रोक्का) and an energy expert Mr. Puspa Chitrakar (पुष्प चित्रकार) on March 7, 2010.

BBC Nepali Service Discussion on Institutional and Retail Corruption in Nepal

BBC Nepali Service's Mr. Naryan Shrestha talks to Mr. Hridhayesh Tripathi (हृदयेश त्रिपाठी), Mr. Surya Nath Upadhaya (सूर्यनाथ उपाध्याय), Ms. Mina Acharaya (मीना आचार्य) about institutional and retail corruption in Nepal.

BBC Nepali Service Speaks to NRN President Dev Man Hirachan

BBC Nepali Service's Ms. Rama Parajuli talks to NRN's President Mr. Dev Man Hirachan (देवमान हिराचनसंग) on a variety of topics including government's decision to give IDs to NRN and NRNs' investment in Nepal.

Dr. Rawal and Professor Pyakuryal discuss Nepal's economy

Dr. Tilak Bahadur Rawal, a former Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank and Professor Bishwambher Pyakuryal of Tribhuvan University discuss the state of Nepal's economy in a BBC interview.

Obviously both are very pessimistic about the economic situation, but in my view, neither was able to explain the underlying economics in a clear and concise manner.

Energy Minister Mahat Defends Government's Policy

BBC Nepali Service interviewed Energy Minister Dr. Prakash Saran Mahat (प्रकाशशरण महत) on February 3, 2010 regarding load shedding and recent hike in electricity tariff.

Discussion on Land Reform on BBC Nepali Service

An interesting discussion on land reform in Nepal with Haribol Gajurel (Maoist), Hem Raj Tated (CA member) and Kesav Baral (UML) (हरिबोल गजुरेल, हेमराज तातेड र केशब बडाल) on BBC Nepali Service broadcast on 10-Jan-2010.