Censor Board eyes Shushma Karki’s tattoo on breast

Time again Nepal’s Censor Board is known for acting on the baseless intuition of it’s members. As many of their decision are not based on facts, a protest or judicial decision help them to change their decision. In a latest case, the Board has decided that the tattoo of sun on actress Sushma Karki‘s breast is against patriotic norms.

The decision was made while censoring a movie featuring Sushma in an item dance in her upcoming movie ‘Rajniti’. Although the movie was awarded a PG certificate, the Board has asked the film makers to remove the portions of the movie featuring the actress’ tattoo.sushma karki tattoo

It was not the first time Sushma has shown the tattoo in movies. The posters of her movie ‘Bindaas’ had her featuring the tattoo. But, the Censor Board hadn’t objected on the tattoo at that time.

It is strange to know that the Board is claiming the ownership of an image of a celestial body. Making a tattoo is a personal decision and a human is free to choose what image they want to have on their body. Having a National flag engraved on one’s body is supposed to be patriotic in nature but, the Board official think the opposite.

In my personal opinion, the sun image doesn’t look like the one seen in the flag of Nepal. Even if it were exact copy, that doesn’t mean a Nepali can’t have images on their bodies. These types of decision by the Government body degrade its credibility (if any) further. Some of a few examples of the lack of proper preparation on making decision by the board can be illustrated by the following list:

•     The board had to change it’s decision on ‘Dhuwani’ under media pressure.
•     Supposedly being 80% vulgar ‘Barbad’ was later awarded ‘A’ certificate.
•     Under the pressure of the army ‘Badhshala’ was banned and was later un-banned for no concrete reason.
•     The Board had changed it’s decision on ‘Samaya’ after it’s producer and actress Mausami Malla protested.
•     Banning of the controversial movie ‘ATM‘ was nullified after the court decided to unban the movie.

By the latest move of the Censor Board, it seems, actresses need to censor pass their tattoos before they sign-in a movie!

Yes, such a thing can only happen in Nepal !!

Movie Review – Hostel 2013 (New Nepali Movie)

Nepali movie ‘Hostel’ was released on August 30 in theaters all over Nepal. The movie is produced by Sunil Rawal under Durgish Films. The movie features the friendship of three characters played by Anmol KC, Salon Basnet and Gaurav Pahadi. Actresses Rista Basnet and Prakriti Shrestha are also featured in important characters in the movie. Although the movie is advertised as a college love story, it is more about friendship and relationships. The movie is directed by Hemraj BC.

Story

The movie is the story of Aditya Bikram Rana (Anmol KC), Junge (Salon Basnet) and Shree (Gaurav Pahadi) – three medical college students living in a hostel. Aditya is from a rich family, Junge is from a medium income family and Shree’s background is not clear in the movie. They go through every ups and downs a young student goes through hostel life. There is love, tragedy, betrayal, friendship, family relationship, classroom, hostel warden and so on.

Producer

The producer of ‘Hostel’ Sunil Rawal was successful in winning the hearts of viewers in his debut movie ‘Saayad‘. Based on the the initial crowd in the theaters, ‘Hostel’ is going to be much more successful than his previous movie. In addition to producing good movies, he is also known to debut new talents in Nepali film industry. He introduced Samyam Puri, the son director Narayan Puri in the last movie. In his second movie he experimented in a huge way by introducing some high profile star sons and daughters in ‘Hostel’.

Star Cast

Although Anmol Kc, the son of actor Bhuwan KC, was featured in a very short role in ‘Sathi Ma Timro‘, ‘Hostel’ is his debut movie in leading role. With the success of the movie, Anmol is believed to be the next big star in the Nepali movie industry. In the movie, Anmol is featured as a son of a rich father and is the central character in the movie. He is a bit disconnected with his family, often ignoring his mother’s call.

Salon Basnet, the son of actor/director Shovit Basnet is featured as a student from a medium class family. The family had to borrow money to pay for his tuition. He is careless of his study and is humorous in the movie. In the first half of the movie Salon gets a lot of focus in an entertaining way. In the past, Salon had worked as child actor in a lot of movies and he had also acted in ‘Janzeer’.

The role of Gaurav Pahadi, the son of actor Tika Pahadi, is not that well defined. He is featured in a serious character. Gaurav had debuted as the lead actor in ‘Manjari’.

Strength and Weakness

The movie is strong in portraying the life of college going youth, their hardships and problems in an entertaining way. The attempt to present the college life is a challenge the director has fulfilled successfully. The youth actors have done a very good in portraying the characters they represent. The movie is going to liked by youth as some might see themselves in one of the characters in the movie.

The weakest point in the movie is the script or the presentation of the story. Unrealistic scenes like the MBBS students get to wear stethoscope on the first day of college, or unrealistic dialogues, lack of coordination between the dialogue and actions are some of the things the director has overlooked.

Conclusion

If you have ever been through a college life, there might be something entertaining in the movie to go for. ‘Hostel’ is an entertaining relief in a long list of failures. It has a potential to be successful in spite of some weakness.

I recommend going to the movie for entertainment although I wish, the script were written in better manner.

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Policy reform for investment

AUG 30, KATHMANDU.The government has started different policy-related reforms to attract private, domestic and foreign investment in the industrial sector.

The Ministry of Industry has prepared the drafts of Private Sector Development Policy-2070 BS, Foreign Investment Policy-2070 BS and National Intellectual Property Policy-2070 BS.

The industrial sector contributes 6.2 per cent in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The number of large scale industries has reached 5,274.

The new policies would help further promote production and productivity, create employment opportunity, use of local skills with focus on the utilization of natural resources, import substitution and promotion of export, Ministry’s Joint Spokesperson Uddav Prasad Rijal said.

Similarly, preparation of the draft of Industrial Entrepreneurship Act and Foreign Investment and Technology Handover Act has reached the final phase. Likewise, a bill on Nepal Accreditation Board has been developed for the recognition of quality of Nepali products in the international market.

Besides, the Ministry is learnt to have prepared directives for the establishment of Technology Development Fund. Budget of Rs. 10 million has been allocated for the establishment of the fund.

Likewise, the Ministry has a target to expand the network of Micro Entrepreneurship Development Programme aimed at alleviating poverty to 50 districts and Rs. 440 million has been managed for the same purpose.

The Ministry has also decided to establish the SAARC Handicrafts and Design Center on the premises of Department of Cottage and Small Industries and land has been arranged and Rs. 5 million provided for the same. RSS

Voices raised for 33% women participation in CA

AUG 30, KATHMANDU. Different four organisations working in the sector of women’s rights have called for ensuring at least 33 per cent women’s participation in the upcoming Constituent Assembly election.

Sathi, Didi Bahini, Media Advocacy and Sancharika Samuha have launched a collective campaign to mount pressure on the political parties to address the voices.

These organisations organised a press meet here today and shared information about this.

The campaign has been launched when the political parties have already issued circular to their regional and district committees to recommend the names of election candidates from both the direct and proportional systems.

The aim of the campaign is just to urge and exert pressure to the political parties to give 33 per cent space to women in the election, campaign member Bandana Rana said.

Similarly, another member Nirmala Sharma said no participation of women on the High Level Political Committee has led the creation of doubts over the 33 per cent women participation in the second CA.

Also speaking at the programme, CPN (UML) central leaders Sabitra Bhusal and Mamata Giri pledged to fight to ensure 50 per cent women participation in the CA election. RSS

Government directs to import sugar

AUG 27, KATHMANDU.The Ministry of Commerce and Supplies has directed its three subordinate bodies to import sugar to fend off possible shortage during the upcoming festive occasions.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on May 30 had decided to import 30,000 metric tons of sugar on one per cent customs duty till October 17 for the upcoming festivals and supply it smoothly.

Spokesperson of the Ministry, Deepak Subedi said that they have already directed Nepal Food Corporation and National Trading Ltd to import 5,000 metric tons of sugar each and Salt Trading Limited to purchase 15,000 metric tons of sugar.

He said the Finance Ministry has also been urged to provide assistance to set up fair-price shops targeting the festivals.

The Spokesperson added that a three-member committee has been formed under the coordination of Director General of the Department of the Commerce and Supplies Management for the effective monitoring of the sales of sugar.

The Ministry has also amended system regarding the Private Form Registration Regulations and the new provision on the use and supply of red and blue coloured LP gas cylinders. RSS

Northeast Kathmandu without water for two weeks

AUG 27, KATHMANDU. Water supply to the northeast belt of Kathmandu remains disrupted since two weeks.

The taps in Sundarijal, Nayapati, Gokarna and Jorpati areas have gone dry for 15 days now, said Suresh Chandra Bhatta, a local.

The locals are meeting their water needs from rainwater and buying water from water suppliers who distribute it through tankers.

According to the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited officials, the disruption in water supply in that area is because the main supply pipe has broken near the Besigaon, Jorpati-6. They said they will fix the pipe and resume water supply at the earliest. RSS