Balidaan | |
---|---|
Directed by | Tulsi Ghimire |
Written by | Modanath Prasrit |
Produced by | Shyam Sapkota |
Starring | Hari Bansha Acharya Anjali Lama Madan Krishna Shrestha Shanti Maskey Keshav Bhattarai Laxmi Giri Neer Shah |
Production company | Cinema Nepal |
Distributed by | Pashupati Records |
Release date |
|
Country | Nepal |
Language | Nepali |
Balidaan (Sacrifice) is a 1997 Nepali historical drama film, directed by Tulsi Ghimire, and written by Modanath Prasrit. It was produced by Shyam Sapkota under the banner of Cinema Nepal. Widely regarded as one of the greatest movie of all time in the history of Nepalese Cinema, The film is set in Panchayat-era Nepal, and depicts a fictionalised version of the contemporary democracy movement. It features Hari Bansha Acharya in the lead role, alongside Anjali Lama, Madan Krishna Shrestha, Shanti Maskey, Keshav Bhattarai, Laxmi Giri and Neer Shah. The film was a critical and commercial success during the time of its release.
One day a rebel dies after a conflict with the police officers on a campus. Bikram (B.S. Rana), the leader of the revolutionary group, expresses his sorrow for the rebel who died and sends other revolutionaries underground to hide from the police; they disperse in different areas of Nepal. Sangita (Anjali Lama) reaches Sirani village where she gets to meet Arjun (Hari Bansha Acharya), a young student. She informs him that Bikram has been arrested. Arjun works on their agenda to raise awareness to other people about their rights via their songs.
The group is preparing for their revolution against the Panchayat system. Arjun and Sangita visit another village to raise awareness about democracy. On the way, they meet a retired captain (Madan Krishna Shrestha) who is not convinced by their plan. The captain tries to persuade the head of the village to allow inter-caste marriage but the head of the village refutes the idea. The captain tells the revolutionary group to perform an inter-caste marriage to convince the head of the village. Arjun and Sangita decide to marry each other, but another member of the group secretly loves her. He betrays the group and tells the police of their plan.
Arjun is arrested and tortured by Senior Police Inspector Karna (Neer Shah). He is sentenced to 10 years in jail by the court. While walking out of the court, he spits on the minister who demanded the death penalty. Later, Karna is impressed by Arjun's beliefs. The officer tells him that if he will apologize for spitting on the minister and reveal the names of those who are involved in the revolutionary group they will release him, but he refuses. While Arjun is being transferred to the Palpa prison, he breaks free from the police car. The police then break up a fight between the revolutionaries and Arjun dies by Karna who killed him only to end Arjun's pain. Karna is also killed by the captain and in his last moments Karna pays respect to Arjun but saluting him. Sangita gives birth to a child at the fight scene and the film ends with a song relating that Arjun gave up his life for the nation.
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Aayau Aayau" | Ramesh Shrestha | Ramesh Shrestha | Ramesh Shrestha, Manoj Gajurel | 2:55 |
2. | "Chameli" | Ramesh Shrestha | Ramesh Shrestha | Lochan Bhattarai | 3:21 |
3. | "Gaun Gaun Bata Utha" | Ramesh Shrestha, Om Shrestha, Sunita Subba | 4:44 | ||
4. | "Hamro Adamya Kranti" | Ramesh Shrestha | Ramesh Shrestha, Om Shrestha, Lochan Bhattarai | 7:10 | |
5. | "Hamro Nepalma" | Ramesh Shrestha, Om Shrestha | 3:08 | ||
6. | "Horra" | Chetnarayan Rai | Chetnarayan Rai | Chetnarayan Rai, Manoj Gajurel | 5:55 |
7. | "Rakta Krantiko Jwalamukhi" | Ramesh Shrestha | Ramesh, Kumar Kanchha, Lochan Bhattarai | 3:41 |
The film was released in 1997. [3] In September 2005, it was banned by the government of Nepal for its portrayal of Nepal's communist movement. [3] [4] [5] [6] Sudeshna Sarkar of Two Circles wrote: "Balidan portrayed the Communist movement of Nepal and was banned five years ago when King Gyanendra seized absolute power with the help of the army and jailed Nepal's top politicians". [7] The song "Gaun Gaun Bata Utha" was adopted by the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). [3] It was previously released during the Panchayat era, composed by Shyam Tamot, and had been banned from state-owned Radio Nepal. [8] Balidaan became a blockbuster, and was praised by the audiences for its revolutionary theme, and for the film's touching songs. [9]
In May 2015, the film was screened on satellite television station Dish Home. [10]
The staff of NepaliSansar cited the film as one of the "best Nepali movies ever", alongside Chino , Darpan Chhaya , Kusume Rumal , Lahure , and Desh. [11] Kamal Subedi of Republica said: "Balidan is one of the successful movies of all time". [12] The staff of BossNepal wrote: "It is a good movie to catch up if you are willing to get a glimpse of what surpassed among the people of Nepal during the democratic movement". [13] The staff of La.Lit wrote: "Balidan, [...] was a tearjerker perfectly poised between the fall of Panchayat and the start of the Maoist revolution". [14]
MaHa is the acronym of the comedy duo Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya of Nepal in Devanagari script. The acronym was coined by another contemporary comedian, Rajaram Paudel. MaHa is recognized for educating the public about social and political issues through its programs.
Madan Krishna Shrestha is a Nepali actor, comedian, writer, singer, song writer, director and producer. He is one of the most successful and respected comedians in the Nepali entertainment industry and was the most popular stage performer of his time.
Hari Bansha Acharya is a Nepalese actor, comedian, director, singer and writer. He is known for his method acting. He is one half of the comedy duo MaHa Jodi along with fellow comedian Madan Krishna Shrestha. He is known for his performance as Arjun in the 1997 patriotic drama film Balidaan. His performance in the series Madan Bahadur Hari Bahadur as "Hari Bahadur" is well recognized. He also wrote and performed in the film Shatru Gatey.
Rājamati is a 1995 Nepali film made in Nepal Bhasa. The first Nepal Bhasa movie is Silu, released in 1987.
Neer Bikram Shah, also known as Nir Shah, is a Nepalese film actor, director, producer, poet, songwriter, and businessman. He is considered one of the leading actors in Nepali cinema history and an actor with multiple identities. He is related to the royal family of Nepal.
Je Bho Ramrai Bho is a 2003 Nepali film written and directed by Hari Bansha Acharya.
China Harayeko Manchhe is an autobiography written by Hari Bansha Acharya. The story features a god-fearing man who happens to lose his "China" or "Cheena" (horoscope).
Arpan Thapa is a Nepalese actor, director, and scriptwriter.
Nepal Idol is a Nepali reality television singing competition that is part of the Idols franchise created and owned by FremantleMedia. Nepal Idol 2017 is the first season of Idol Franchise in Nepal which aired on AP1 TV.
Truck Driver is a 1994 Romance/Drama Nepalese movie, written by Brazesh Khanal and directed by Rajkumar Sharma. This movie features Shiv Shrestha, Karishma Manandhar, Shree Krishna Shrestha, Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya in the lead roles. This film became one of the highest-grossing films of all time in Nepal. This movie also features the Maha Jodi who were popular comedians at that time. The songs of this film became popular in Nepal. The film was made on a budget of ₹25 lakh, grossed ₹60 lakh, and made ₹25 lakh profit, one of the highest of its time, making it one of the biggest hits in Nepali cinema history.
"Melancholy" is an environmentally-themed song sung by 365 Nepali artists. This song was intended to promote an environmental message by breaking the Guinness World Records for "Most Vocal Solos in a Song Recording", which it successfully did. It was written, music composed and directed by environmentalist Nipesh Dhaka. The song was recorded as a single on 19 May 2016. The recording sessions were inaugurated by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli at 8 am and continued until 6 pm. The song was released on 2 September 2017 by President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Army Officer's Club, Kathmandu.
Shatru Gate is a 2018 Nepalese drama comedy film, directed by Pradip Bhattarai and written by Deepak Raj Giri, Pradeep Bhattari and Hari Bansha Acharya. The film is produced by Deepak Raj Giri, Deepa Shree Niraula, Narendra Kansakar and Shivahari Poudel under the banner of MaHa Sanchar. The film stars ensemble cast of Madan Krishna Shrestha, Hari Bansha Acharya, Deepak Raj Giri, Deepa Shree Niraula, Priyanka Karki, Paul Shah, Aanchal Sharma. The film was released on 23 March 2018 with mixed response from critics but positive response from audience. The film became an "All Time Blockbuster" at the box office with gross of over रु 12 Crore making it the fourth-highest-grossing Nepali film at 2018.
Basudev is a 1984 Nepali language film, adapted from Dhruba Chandra Gautam's Kattel Sarko Chotpatak by Neer Shah in his directorial debut. The film starred Harihar Sharma as the eponymous character, with Shakuntala Sharma, Subhadra Adhikari, Krishna Malla, Sharmila Malla and director Shah himself in supporting roles, while Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya were credited as guest actors. While the film was a critical and commercial success, it was criticised by some for its departure from the source material; Dhruba Chandra Gautam expressed disappointment at the film for being markedly different from the script he had written for the film. Neer Shah has conceded that various artistic compromises were made for commercial reasons which he came to regret later on. He is said to be actively planning a remake.
Madan Bahadur Hari Bahadur was a Nepali sitcom television series. Hari Bansha Acharya and Madan Krishna Shrestha were the script writer, director, and the main characters. The show aired on Nepal Television. Integrating political and social topics into a comedy drama, Madan Bahadur Hari Bahadur was one of the most viewed programs in Nepal. The series ended in 2010. Hari Bahadur's character is very popular and widely loved among Nepali people, it is considered one of the funniest in the country's entertainment industry. Other comedians frequently imitate this character on their shows.
Mahapurush is a 2022 Nepali comedy drama film written and directed by Pradip Bhattarai. The film stars Maha Jodi, along with Gauri Malla, Rabindra Singh Baniya, Rajaram Paudel, Arun Chhetri, and Anjana Baraili. The film is about a widowed father of two sons finds love at an old age and struggles as a society and his own sons disapprove of it. It was released on 28 October 2022, simultaneously in Nepal, United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East countries.