Nepali film does not have a very long movie history, but the industry has its own place in the cultural heritage of the country. It is often referred to as ‘Nepali Chalchitra’ . The terms Kollywood and Kallywood are also used, as a portmanteau of “Kathmandu” and “Hollywood”; “Kollywood” however is more frequently used to refer to Tamil cinema. The making of Nepali films is said to have begun with D.B. Pariyar’s Satya Harishchandra, which was the first Nepali-language movie to be shot. It was produced from Kolkata. Aama was the first film produced in Nepal and was released on October 7, 1964. It was produced by the Information Department of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal . It was directed by Hira Singh Khatri and the lead actors were Shiva Shankar Manandhar and Bhuwan Chand, who are regarded as the first actors in the Nepali film industry. The first film to be produced under a private banner was Maitighar, which was released at the end of 1966 by Sumonanjali Films Pvt. Ltd. Although it was a Nepali movie, it had many Indians contributing toward its making. Mala Sinha played the lead role, along with Chidambar Prasad Lohani, whom she later married. It had special appearances of Sunil Dutt and comedian Rajendra Nath. Directed by B.S. Thapa and music scored by Jaidev, a veteran maestro, it had Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar and Manna Dey, all of whom were established Indian singers, doing the playback singing with Prem Dhoj Pradhan, C.P. Lohani and Aruna Lama. The Nepal government established the Royal Nepal Film Corporation in 1971.
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