Cinepatra/Kathmandu
With the objective of safely preserving the history, art, and technology of Nepali cinema for future generations, the Film Development Board Nepal has formally launched the Nepali Film Museum. The museum was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Board’s auditorium in the presence of the chief guest, Laxmi Kumari Basnet, Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
During the special program, filmmakers and various organizations handed over historic cameras, cassettes, tapes, posters, artwork, scripts, and collectible documents from the past. Individuals and institutions that contributed materials were also honored at the event.
Handover of Historic Materials
To enrich the museum, filmmakers and organizations from different sectors made significant contributions:
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Cine Focus Pvt. Ltd. (Rajat Budhathoki) handed over a RED camera.
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Classic Cine Universe Pvt. Ltd. (Dinesh Mahara) provided a Sony EX3 camera.
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Senior film editor Man Bahadur Thapa donated a 1980 Panasonic F10 camera, a Sony color monitor (2001), National Panasonic 543 cassette tapes, sound/video equipment, and an audio mixer.
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Uttam Thapa, Managing Director of Music Nepal Pvt. Ltd., provided 152 Nepali film posters and artworks.
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Rupendra Khadgi of OSR Pvt. Ltd. contributed film artworks.
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Kantipur Radio handed over 344 film cassettes and audio CDs.
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Darshanbir Shakya, editor of Page Three magazine, provided posters of 80 Nepal Bhasa films.
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Janak Tamang, Managing Director of Highlights Nepal Pvt. Ltd., contributed artworks of 202 Nepali films.
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Sundarlal Shrestha of Ideal Designers provided 146 Nepali film posters.
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Senior filmmakers Mandil Shrestha and Gaurishankar Dhunju (A One Jan Center) donated an old historic camera and tripod.
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Writer and filmmaker Narendra Bahadur Shrestha committed to providing collectible documents from the first film awards.
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Senior cinematographer Purushottam Pradhan donated scripts of 63 Nepali films he was associated with.
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Nepali film enthusiast Khumraj Paudel (represented by Priya Lamichhane) handed over 704 Nepali film posters.
At the program, Film Development Board Chairman Dinesh DC stated that establishing a national film museum had long been his dream and described it as a campaign to preserve the soul of Nepali cinema.
“Nepali cinema’s history should not remain limited to memories; it must be institutionally preserved so that it can be passed on to future generations,” he said. He emphasized that documenting past struggles, technological developments, and creative journeys in one place is the need of the time.
He also informed that the museum will be connected with digital archiving in the coming days and developed as a study center for researchers, students, and film enthusiasts. “This is just the beginning. We will expand it as a project of national pride,” he pledged.
The program began with remarks from Board Member Ganesh Subedi. Among those present were Censor Board Chairman Uday Bahadur Rana Magar and Board Members Raju Pyakurel and Birendra Bhatt.
Speakers at the event described the initiative as a historic step toward preserving the legacy of Nepali cinema. The museum is expected to safeguard past technologies, creations, and documents in one place, providing study and research opportunities for the new generation.
The Film Development Board announced that it will continue collaborating with more filmmakers, institutions, and private collectors to further organize and enrich the museum. The initiative to institutionally preserve the history of the Nepali film industry has been widely welcomed by members of the film fraternity. The event was attended by the presidents of 13 film-related organizations and many distinguished filmmakers.
