By Renuka Dhakal
Kathmandu, Dec. 25: Digital platform YouTube has opened doors of opportunity for many and provided an unwavering platform for innovative ideas.
The entertainment sector has benefitted a lot with the increase in YouTube users in Nepal.
From music videos to feature films, short- films and tele-serials, every entertaining event now use the YouTube as their suitable platform to reach the audience easily.
Even a few years ago, people had to rely on CDs and DVDs to watch Nepali movies, but now time has changed and YouTube has modified the trend of watching movies. Now one can enjoy movies on his/her mobile phone.
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many Nepali films have been released on YouTube.
Commercially successful and even flopped movies get released on YouTube these days.
In addition, commercially successful films are taking a double benefit from YouTube.
More than two years after its release in local theaters, “Chakka Panja-3” has now been released on YouTube.
The movie has been viewed over one million times in 21 hours of its YouTube release.
The film has continuously succeeded to reach the trending number 3 on YouTube at a short span of time of its release.
The film is directed by Deepashree Niraula and with Deepak Raj Giri, Kedar Ghimire, Jitu Nepal and Deepika Prasai in its lead roles.
It is also considered to be the highest grossing film of all time during its release in halls.
Many viewers have responded that this film was good because it focused the contemporary issues.
Kedar Ghimire’s performance has been openly praised by many in the film.
Similarly, “Jatrai Jatra”, which came on display on YouTube a week ago, has also received good response from the audience. The film is viewed on YouTube for more than 3 million times in a week.
The thriller film directed by Pradip Bhattarai was also a critically acclaimed movie. Bipin Karki, Dayahang Rai, Rabindra Singh Baniya, Rabindra Jha and Barsha Raut have done the lead roles. Likewise, “Birkram-2”, a romantic comedy film released in the cinema theatres last year and premiered on YouTube on December 22 is viewed over 1 million times.
Directed by Milan Chams, the film has Paul Shah, Barsha Siwakoti, Najir Hussain, Buddhi Tamang and Desh Bhakta Khanal in main roles.
The film “Daal Bhaat Tarkari” released in the cinema theatres in April did the average business.
Despite a huge expectation and being done by popular comedy duo Haribansha Achrya and Madan Krishna Shrestha along with Niruta Singh, Barsha Raut, Aanchal Sharma and Puspa Khadka, the film had received poor critic comments.
The film released on YouTube is now viewed over 3.6 million times. It has succeeded to reach trending number one and still it is trending number 8 on YouTube.
Whether the audience will visit the cinema after the COVId-19, the viewers of Nepali films on YouTube have surged unprecedentedly.
Of course, YouTube has generated a hope for filmmakers and it has largely helped promote and Nepali films across the globe.