Director Manoj Pandit is a well-known figure of Nepali cinema. He started his direction from the movie “LAKCHYA”. Pandit’s documentary “The Greater Nepal” gave him both national and international recognition. Cinemas like “Dashdunga”, “Badhshala” furnished his superiority in direction. Lyricist, Political activist Pandit, is a complete cinephile.
The burning issue moviemaker Pandit talks about Nepali Cinema, his upcoming projects and movies in an exclusive interview with Nisha Rai and Aakankshya Bista – “The Cinema Times”.
Q. What is cinema all about?
A. Cinema is a medium for communicating your expression. It starts out with an idea and eventually expresses an emotion. It is a visual literature. To me, cinema is more than simply a profession. It has become my life and my identity. Now, I see being incomplete without cinema.
Q. How was your experience in making movie “Dashdhunga” and “Badhshala”?
A. It’s all about learning for me. From every movie I made, I have learned something new. When I started making film, it was more about mastering my techniques and craftsmanship. Filmmaking is more than a project; it’s a story about living soul.
Q. Was Badhshala your dream project?
A. Every project that I do is my dream project. Dashdhunga was also my dream project, so is Badhshala and any cinema I will be making will be one. I put all my heart and soul in my project. I seek to deliver equal effort on every project of mine.
Q. What is the biggest threat in Nepali Cinema?
A. The biggest threat in Nepali Cinema is lack of craftsmanship. Cinema should not be categorized as art, commercial, action, comedy, etc. We seriously lack contents and skills for story telling. A strong story prevails everything. Movie should have universal appeal and a good story.
Q. How can we enhance the industry?
A. I believe craftsmanship is what we should focus on. Cinema is more about the art of story telling and if we work on that obviously Nepali Cinema will improve.
Q. In your opinion what should be done to expedite the Nepali Film literacy?
A. To enhance, Government has to provide academic platform. Nepali Film literacy should be proposed as a subject from class six onwards. It helps us to see reality in different context. Cinema is all about us and we need to learn this.
Q. What is your upcoming project?
A. I am making a movie on children. Through this movie I am trying to raise certain issues regarding children that have not been raised yet. This movie might not have a commercial appeal but purity in what I focus on.
Q. Life is….
A. Life is existence and space.
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