During the release of films in Nepal, film workers often have a common complaint, "We were not given a show." Nepali film workers always feel that they are being unfairly treated during the distribution of shows.

Nischal Basnet, the actor and producer of the film 'Behuli from Meghauli', which was released on October 17, also felt the same. He complained that the number of shows was reduced due to Hindi films, even though the audience liked the film. At that time, Nischal expressed his dissatisfaction and wrote, "I have now moved to the hall option". Nischal wanted to convey the message that the film can be run without Hal. A new OTT platform was launched on Dasain with 'Behuli from Meghauli'. The film also did good business when placed on the said platform while getting good publicity. 

According to Chhatra Thapa, Business Development Manager of MSM, the film has so far done more than 1 crore business. "Even now, people see this film every day," he says.

But as Nischal wanted, the hall option is not being OTT . MSM's 'Behuli From Meghauli' alone got more viewers till now. There was a rumor at that time. They could not give the same continuity in other films,' says Nischal. Although

is not an immediate alternative to theaters, filmmakers are optimistic about the OTT platform recently. 

director Krisha Chaulagai says that such a platform can attract a large group of people who are deprived of watching Nepali films. There are no halls in Nepal in many areas. A large number of Nepali viewers are deprived of watching the film. Those masses can be added to OTT," she says.

director Naveen Subba says that although there is potential in OTT, there is a problem with the way it is being developed in Nepal. We need OTT. But still no digital literacy . There is no diversity in our films,' he says.  

director Manoj Pandit also released the film 'Ek' in October 2078 directly on the OTT platform 'Cinema Ghar App' instead of in the theaters. But the film did not do well in OTT.  According to Sagar Kharel, the CEO of

cinema, Nepali films used to come sporadically on YouTube until then. The audience was not used to buying and watching movies online. "Now I am slowly getting used to OTT". The number of movie watchers has increased, he says. 

Nischal still says that Nepali viewers should get used to watching movies on OTT by paying money. You have to get used to watching movies by paying money. Apps have to be transacted . It will be necessary to go to the subscription base and make it available for viewing throughout the month for a certain amount,' he says.  

There are OTTs, less investment

OTTs are opening and closing in Nepal . There is no condition to invest enough in the active OTT.  Cinema House CEO Kharel says, 'OTT culture is growing internationally. But in Nepal, it is not yet possible to earn money from OTT. We are in Pay Per Views. Unable to subscribe . It needs crores of investment.
Prakash Puri of OTT Kantipur Cinemas, which has been in operation for 18 months, also says that they have not been able to keep anything other than college products. "We are on the subscription base, but we are not in a position to invest much now." However, the more you can invest, the better,' he says.

OTTs also don't have enough films . Starting from Dasain, MSM has released 'Behuli From  From Meghauli' to 'Mahajatra', 'Bulbul', 'Mummy', 'Pardeshi 2', 'Farki Farki', more than one dozen films have been released. However, Thapa says MSM is not even on the subscription base. We don't even have enough film content. Making more films requires a lot of investment. We are expanding that," he says. Even in the app 'Video Shop' which was launched in 2076, there is not enough content. 

Film producer Ramkrishna Pokharel says that there is no investment in Nepal OTTs. OTT is in VOD system in Nepal. Content is not invested in . The content made by others is kept on rental," he says, giving an example of foreign OTT, "Netflix produces its own content . Our career is not good just by putting what others have made into us.' He says that instead of bringing 'Patke Audience' to Nepali OTT, we should invest in content based on long-term thinking. Arjun Kumar, the producer of

, says that Nepali producers have to suffer in OTT. "Nepali OTT operators don't invest, they don't give advance for the film," he says, "instead, they ask for publicity expenses when releasing a film." Despite the

, some OTTs that were launched in Nepal were closed down. Actress Richa Sharma launched 'Chalachitra TV App' in 2077 . While introducing the app, she said, "Now the wishes of the audience who are unable to watch movies at home will be fulfilled." But this app didn't last long . Although some people commented that it was closed because of investment, Richa is not ready to accept this . She says, 'Not because of investment, I did it in partnership . The partners lived in the US . Our vision has been closed due to lack of coordination.' Along with

movie TV app, Fopi app, Nepal Flix, Iflix and other OTTs are not active now. 

Long-term thinking

Active OTT operators say they are moving forward with long-term thinking . MSM's Business Development Manager Chhatra Thapa says that they have not entered OTT for a while. He says, "We have come to think for the long term". We are thinking of making a long-term plan even after 2/3 years of losses.' According to him, MSM has started this OTT by targeting 40 percent of Nepalese and 60 percent of Nepalese who live outside. How many films is not possible for everyone to watch in the hall. People from far away places who cannot reach movie theaters watch it on OTT . Nepali cinema does not reach many places even abroad. It is not possible to see . In that case, OTT helps,' he says . 
He says that the content of the last time has received good support from the audience. Now MSM has more than 3 lakh users .

CEO Sagar Kharel claims that the cinema which started in 2016 has also come with a long-term plan. He said that now they are giving more priority to films that have received good publicity and are playing in theaters. "Those films which have got good marketing, those films are going to run on OTT". Films which have received less marketing, have not played in the halls, they will not play,' he says. He says, 'Performance is getting better . We have 1 million users . We have invested by seeing the future.' He says that now they have changed their strategy. He says, "Earlier we used to put 4/5 contents at once". now  We put up to one or two a month.' 

Prakash Puri of Kantipur Cinemas says that he is currently undergoing an OTT trial period in Nepal. He says that the audience is gradually being trusted. "Cinemas that are not prioritized by the hall, are not stuck in the time limit of the hall, are suitable for OTT . We are promoting those movies . A positive situation is gradually coming,' he says.

Actress Richa Sharma says that even though the OTT started by her has been closed due to technical reasons, there are many possibilities . I have also heard how many people have watched your film on OTT when I went abroad. Currently, OTT in Nepal is on a good path. Nepalis in diaspora also want to be close to Nepali language and Nepaliness. That medium is film . That's why OTT is effective for them,' she says, 'if they gradually increase their investment and produce their own content, there is a possibility of films like Nach in the hall directly on OTT as well.' 

Richa also says that OTT should gradually move from pay per view to subscription model. She says, 'to watch a film here, the audience has to pay 2/300 . If you pay 2000 on the world's biggest app, you can watch many movies. Gradually, our OTT in Nepal should also follow that model.'

Nepali film on global OTT

When will there be a strong presence of Nepali film on the world's famous OTTs Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney?
producer Arjun Kumar in a discussion of NIF in 2078 portrayed Nepali film going on global platform as a daydream. He said that he did not imagine that Nepali films would be released on OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon for 20 years.