Despite its short history, the Nepali movie industry has its own place in the cultural heritage of Nepal. Nepalese films or Nepalese cinema refers to films made in Nepali language within Nepal and beyond. Most Nepalese films are narrative and were shot on 16-millimeter film during the film era, which are now mostly digitally captured.
The first Nepali-language film was Satya Harischandra, which was released in 1951 in Darjeeling, India, and produced by D. B. Pariyar. The first Nepali-language movie made in Nepal was Aama, which was released in 1964 produced by the Nepalese government. However, the first Nepali-language movie made by the Nepalese private sector was Maitighar, which starred Mala Sinha and was released in 1966. The first color Nepali-language movie was Kumari.
Purna Bahadur Ko Sarangi holds the record of highest-grossing film in Nepal with gross of रु 51.40 crore (514.0 million NPR). The sequel is set to release in 2083 BS. The movie collected over NPR 75 Crores at the worldwide box office, breaking multiple records and touching millions of hearts. It has since become one of the most loved Nepali films of all time.
Early cinema (1951–1979)
Year Film Artist Director Producer Music composer Editor Genres 1964 Aama (mother) Shiva Shankar, Bhuvan Chand Heera Singh Khatri Information Dept. Govt of Nepal 1966 Maitighar (Birthplace[women's]) Mala Sinha, C.P. Lohani B.S. Thapa Sumonanjali Films Pvt. Ltd. Jaidev 1967 Hijo, Aaja, Bholi (Yesterday, Today, Tomarrow) Mitra Lal Sharma, Bhuvan Chand Heera Singh Khatri Information Dept. Govt of Nepal 1971 Parivartan (Change) Yagya mirth Ghimire Heera Singh Khatri Information Dept. Govt of Nepal 1973 Mann Ko Bandh (Heart's stoppage) Salyan K.C., Sushma Shahi Prakash Thapa Royal Nepal Film Corporation Nati Kaji, Shiva Shankar 1977 Kumari (Living goddess) Biswa Basnet, Chaitya Devi Prem Bahadur Basnet Royal Nepal Film Corporation 1978 Paral Ko Aago (Straw's Flame) Tanka Sharma, Susmita Dhakal, Basundhara Bhusal (debut) Pratap Subba Cineroma Shanti Thatal
1980s Year Film Artists Director Producer Music composer Editor 1980 Sindoor (Marriage symbol) Meenaxi Anand, Biswa Basnet, Neer Shah Prakash Thapa Royal Nepal Film Corporation 1980 Jeevan Rekha (Life Line) Meenaxi Anand, Shiv Shrestha (debut) 1981 Bansuri (Flute) Rakesh Pandey, Rajani Sharma, Tanka Sharma, Biswa Hingmang Tulsi Ghimire Mohan Kumar Bannerjee Ranjit Gazmer1982 Juni (Incarnation) Bhuwan K.C. (debut), Meenakshi Anand Sarad Palekar 1982 Bachana Chahane Haru (Those Who Want to Live) Kiran Thakuri, Biswa Hingmang Pratap Subba Shanti Thatal1982 Badalindo Aakash (The Changing Sky) Shiv Shrestha, Sushma Shahi, Neer Shah Laxminath Sharma Royal Nepal Film Corporation Gopal Yonzon1983 Samjhana (Memories) Bhuwan K.C., Trupti Totlani Narodkar (debut), Muralidhar Shambhu Pradhan Ishwari Films Ranjit Gazmer1984 Kanchhi (Little Sister) Shiv Shrestha, Sharmila Malla (debut), Sushma Shahi, Mausami Malla (debut) B.S. Thapa Bhagawan Das Shrestha Gopal Yonzon1984 Adarsha Nari (Exemplary Woman) Bijaya Lama, Ujwal Ghimire, Amsumala Shahi, Punam Lama Hem Lama Hem Lama Madan Pariyar1985 Ke Ghar Ke Dera (What's Home, What's Tenancy) Puran Joshi (debut), Sharmila Malla, Madan Krishna Shrestha, Hari Bansha Acharya, Kristi Mainali (debut) Pradeep Rimal 1985 Kusume Rumal (Scarlet Handkerchief) Bhuwan K.C., Trupti Totlani Narodkar, Udit Narayan (debut) Tulsi Ghimire Sayapatri Films Ranjit Gazmer1985 Basudev [ lord Vishnu] Krishna Malla (debut), Sharmila Malla, Madan Krishna Shrestha, Hari Bansha Acharya, Neer Shah, Harihar Sharma Neer Shah Ranjit Gazmer1986 Biswas (Faith) Shiv Shrestha, Roshi Karki, Rajshri Chhetri Chetan Karki Royal Nepal Film Corporation Gopal Yonzon1987 Saino (Relation) Bhuwan K.C., Trupti Totlani Narodkar, Danny Denzongpa, Raksha Mark Ugyen Chopel Triple Jem Movies Ranjit Gazmer1988 Anyay (Injustice) Meera Madhuri (debut), Biswa Basnet, Prakash Adhikari (debut)Tulsi Ghimire Sagarmatha Movietone Ranjit Gazmer1988 Jhodaa (Pair) Banni Sharma, Tanka Sharma Barun Kawasi Kusulata Interprises Ranjit Gazmer1988 Maya Preeti (Love and Affection) Ravindra Khadka, Sharmila Malla, Krishna Malla Chetan Karki Shanti Films Gopal Yonzon1988 Sahas (Courage) Shiv Shrestha Giri Raj Lamichhane Trishakti Films 1989 Behuli (The Bride)Sunita Khadka, Prakash Adhikari Shambhu Pradhan Ishwari Films Ranjit Gazmer1989 Bhagya Rekha (Line of Fate) Rabindra Khadka, Mausami Malla Deepak Rayamajhi Surya Binayek Films Norbu Tshering1989 Santaan (Offspring) Bhuwan K.C., Arjun Jung Shahi (debut), Ujwal Ghimire, Karishma Manandhar (debut), Gauri Malla (debut), Shanti Maskey, Kristi Mainali Prakash Thapa Om Productions, Royal Nepal Film Corporation Manohari Singh1989 Lahure (The Armyman) Shrawan Ghimire, Trupti Totlanii Narodkar Tulsi Ghimire Kanchanjungha Films Ranjit Gazmer
1990s