From time to time, commercial houses in the Nepali film industry come to invest in films. This time, Shekhar Golchha of the Golchha Group is involved in film production through 'Paran'. Shekhar has invested in the film through 'Biscope Cinema' along with Ranjit Acharya. The film is currently showing in theaters. Kantipur journalist Reena Moktan spoke to new producer Golchha about his debut experience, 'Biscope Cinema' and his inclination towards the film industry:

What motivated you to get into film production? Filmmakers point out that the main reason for the film market not expanding in Nepal is that the commercial sector still does not see a market for it. What do you think?

Of course, investment in films can increase when corporate houses come in. Everyone believes that if investment increases, quality will increase. The remuneration of artists and technicians will also increase. Nepali film was creative. But, we knew that there was a lack of investment. If investment is increased, the impact on the creative side will also increase. Yes, the market has not yet been established to invest a lot. There is no situation to recover the invested amount. However, we came into this field through 'Biscope Cinema' with the idea that the market can also increase if good management and investment are made.

When forming this company, Ranjit and I had 2/3 things in mind. First – we will not make a ‘copy paste’ film. Second – we will not have unnecessary or unrealistic dancing/singing scenes. If you want to watch action, dance and sing, then watch Hollywood/Bollywood. Why should we compete with them? We started ‘Biscope Cinema’ to try something new. We watched many film scripts in the meantime but were not satisfied with any of them. However, after hearing the story of ‘Paran’, I felt that it is compatible with Nepali society. And it also has a market-oriented subject. Be it development or national issues, if there is no money there, it will not be sustainable. On that basis, we chose the story of ‘Paran’. Again, the story of the film was good, it was a family matter. It also covers the burning issues of Nepal.

What kind of topics do you look for in a script? Why?

I got the opportunity to travel all over the country when I was the president of the Federation of Nepal Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). I think the biggest problem in the country is that the youth do not see a future in the country. When they go abroad, there is a kind of 'collateral damage' in the family. How can this issue be shown without making someone else a villain? I thought. This is seen as a big problem of Nepali society. That is why I really liked the story of the film 'Paran'. When I was the president of the federation, I had also said that not being able to create opportunities for the youth in the country is a failure of the private sector like us. It seems that many movements are the result of this. The story of the film was not mine. But, it touched me and I invested . 

I have always talked about Nepali originality . When I was the president of the federation, the festivals I used to attend . Our Nepali songs were not played  in the entertainment programs held there. The crowd would be dancing to Hindi songs . I would feel embarrassed when I danced to 'vulgar' items . I always requested the organizers not to do this . The organizers would say that they had to do this to attract the crowd . However, I would tell many people - if you do this, don't invite me . By doing this, we forget our originality . If we forget originality, we will move towards destruction . I would also question why we had to dance to someone else's songs despite having our own culture . That is why original stories are my priority . 

There must have been opportunities to invest in many other areas for business . But, why did you come to the film? There are two reasons for this. First – it was a professional reason. If I say that I have a different perspective without keeping a professional perspective, it will not seem right. Yes, I have employed 10,000 people from my organization. I am one of the high tax payers. But, I am attracted to stories. I consider stories essential in any person's life. If there is a story, there is no 'dolence'. That is why I have always considered 'storytelling' as an important aspect. Whether it is in marketing or business. I feel that there is something of storytelling in me. The story of 'Paraan' is not mine. However, I have written the outline of the story of the film to be made now. What I believe is that I will tell the story that I believe in, or I will tell it. How will the film do commercially? That is another matter.

Earlier, the commercial house ‘Chaudhari Group’ produced the film. But, the film did not do as well as expected. They have not returned to film production till now. What should a commercial house do to continue producing films? If ‘Paraan’ does not secure its investment and make a profit, will ‘Biscope Cinema’ also stop making films?

Yes, we are not the first corporate house to venture into film production. But, I think we are the first to come up with a production company. But, there is a difference when a corporate house comes into film production. All the agreements we make are transparent. We want to work transparently. Perhaps this is also a new issue for the film industry. We have planned to develop ‘Biscope Cinema’ as a production house and continue producing films. Maybe we will make 2-3 films a year! I have put a ‘long term vision’ in it. I will not look at the success and failure of 1/2 films. Overall, I want to build a reliable production house. Which will continue to make films that can be watched by families. I am preparing to make 2-3 films every year, from Biscope.

Now the film market in Nepal is very small. 90 percent of films are still not raising investment. There are 2/3 reasons for this. One is that the quality of our films has not improved. If we could have made quality films, would the results have been different? We have a population of 30 million. There is a big market even in the diaspora. But, if quality films are not made, who will watch films? Nowadays, it still seems difficult to earn money from films. However, I have kept a 'long-term vision' in film production.

Filmmakers have been accusing the private sector -

The private sector has never seen a market in films, they did not even see films as 'CSR'. Did you come to film production because you could not hear such accusations or did you come thinking purely about business? Our organization has a strong 'CSR'. There are many projects from hospitals to education. However, I have not seen films as CSR. For me, this is a purely business venture. At the same time, telling stories is my 'passion'. If I make a film on a topic that can be discussed on national issues, it will also make me happy. Whether ‘Paraan’ is commercially successful or not will not determine what I will do in the future. We will continue to make more films in the future. Work has already begun on the story of one film.

How was the debut experience of making ‘Paraan’?

This is a film that we made on schedule as planned. We released the film on the same date as we announced it would be made and released. That is why a lot of effort has been put into it. I have no experience in filmmaking, I have not even been to the shooting of the film. I do not even know the actors in our film. That does not mean that I am saying less of them. For me, the storytelling of the film is more important than the film. I am happy that the story of the film turned out as I said.

Now what genre and what subject will the film made by ‘Biscope’ be?

The same three things will be taken into consideration in the film made by ‘Biscope’. There will be no vulgarity. We will make an original Nepali film, not a copy-paste. Next, we will not hire technicians or directors from outside. We can even hire actors from outside the country, if necessary. But, we will use our skilled manpower. We will make a realistic film in the style in which we have thought of making the film. The film made with 2/4 songs is being made in Hindi. Our focus will be on making a film with Nepali themes. Women will not be shown as objectified in the film I invest in. We will make this film containing a family story.