‘Have you done theater?’ This question, which is asked at the beginning of anyone acting in a film, shows the strong connection between film and theater. In recent times, theater has become indispensable for doing films. As theater artists have started making a strong presence in films, theater has now become the first choice of filmmakers.

Let's look at the current faces of film, there are those who came from the theater. They have established themselves as excellent actors on the screen. However, the journey from theater to the 'silver screen' is not unique to today. The journey from theater to the 'silver screen' was practiced in world cinema yesterday. Many famous artists started acting on the big screen through the theater. In Nepal too, there is a history of Saroj Khanal, Harihar Sharma, Badri Adhikari to Tika Pahari starting acting on the big screen from the theater. From Basundhara Bhusal to Mithila Sharma, the film has become a destination from the theater. 

Actor Bipin Karki's analysis is that the alliance between film and theater has become even stronger in Nepal with 'Kagbeni' directed by Bhushan Dahal. 'It is the first time that a theater artist has gone to film. However, it seems that our time began with Kagbeni,' said Bipin. In fact, Bipin himself says that his inclination towards films began with 'Kagbeni.' Until then, Nepali films had not attracted theater. Bipin remembers that after the then-famous theater name Saugat Malla did 'Kagbeni', the inclination of theater artists towards films increased in a way. 

'Route' changed 'Kagbeni'

'Dasdhunga' became 'Kagbeni'. This film directed by Manoj Pandit broke the standard of traditional heroes and made Dayahang Rai act. The film also featured acting guru Anup Baral. Bipin says that Nischal Basne's 'Loot' gave it more perfection.

In fact, before 'Loot', films were not made with theater artists. However, the films made were given the name of a different genre. Those films were not called mainstream. But as soon as Loot became commercially successful, filmmakers started to believe in those faces of theater in films. They started making films with theater artists. 

Now theater artists have become indispensable in films. ‘After Saugat Malla, Dayahang and Anup Baral did films, we were also attracted to Nepali films. After Loot, it was said that theatre artists were the ‘mainstream’. Now, when we come to ‘Purna Bahadur’s Sarangi’, that has been proven,’ said Bipin, ‘Now the films we have done have become mainstream.’ 

Theatre artist Sarita Giri says that they have started believing in themselves as mainstream after theatre artists started asserting their ownership over the stage. ‘It is not just now that theatre artists have entered the film industry. Our veteran artists had also done theatre. But at that time, they could not confidently say ‘I came from theatre,’ said Sarita, ‘Harihar Adhikari, Saroj Khanal, Badri Adhikari could say that. At that time, it must have been treated as if they had come from theatre and came to do films. Society did not accept theatre well. Now we proudly say that we do theater.' Actor Pashupati Rai believes that as soon as films starring actors from the theater became commercially successful, those actors also started being accepted in other films. 

'Business is linked to films. 'Kabaddi' and 'Loot' achieved commercial success. The fact that the content of the films was different and the acting was different probably made the theater actors accepted by the market at that time,' says Pashupati, 'Nowadays, theater calls films 'Dhanyo', it makes me happy to hear that.' 

Actor Vijay Baral says that the path of theater actors towards films changed from 'Loot'. At that time, the taste of these films made 'Loot' count in a different direction. Vijay remembers that it was called a documentary film even before 'Kabaddi'. Even then, it was believed that theater actors do 'loud acting'. However, Vijay said that films like ‘Loot’ and ‘Kabaddi’ gradually instilled a taste for acting by stage actors in the minds of the audience. From ‘Kabaddi’ to ‘Jaari’, stage actors started to be accepted. The belief that theatre actors can act in such characters also spread,’ says Vijay. Vijay says that now there is a belief among filmmakers that theatre actors can act in characters. He adds, ‘Now you have stopped calling them theatre actors. Instead, it has become clear that theatre must be done. It took us time to accept it.’ 

Why film?

Vipin started working in films after Gurukul was closed. What is the way forward after Gurukul was closed? Vipin was not seeing any alternative. After Gurukul was closed, he could not even show his work. As theatre actors started appearing in films, Vipin also chose films to make a living by acting. ‘Gurukul was destroyed, and after the looting, I saw the option of films,’ said Bipin. 

Sarita was never interested in films until Gurukul. She says that she started acting in films after Gurukul was closed. Pashupati also started films with the same thought. Pushpati, who says that she started acting in films to reach a large audience and expand her artistic range, sees the financial aspect as important in hitting the ‘silver screen’. Drama does not provide the financial income she thought it would.

Film has been proving strong in that aspect. ‘When Gurukul was closed in the middle, I also got expenses from the film I did at that time. The silver screen became a place to show my work. It is also an experience. Another thing is the financial aspect. I have to give 3 months to the drama,’ said Pashupati, ‘That backup of the film made it easy to do the drama. It is the actor’s self-interest to appear on the silver screen.’ 

Vijay, who moved to Kathmandu with the intention of becoming a comedian and acting in serials, has been interested in theater since he started acting in Mandala. He used to go there to audition for films made by his older ‘brothers’. After ‘Kabaddi’, Vijay was drawn to the film, or rather, he was drawn to it. ‘It had a good impact on the theater. But, when the audience started recognizing this actor as a natural actor from the film, then I was also drawn to the acting in the film,’ Vijay added.

Film actors in theater

Now, it seems that not only theater actors, but also film actors are attracted to stage acting. Sarita says, ‘Film actors started coming to theater, and theater actors reached the silver screen.’ Recently, film actors have also started learning acting from stage gurus. Actor Pradeep Khadka took classes with Anup Baral. Many actors do workshops with acting gurus.