"Election Fever" Hits Theaters: All Three Falgun 1 Releases Suspend Screenings

In a rare and dramatic move for the Nepali film industry, all three movies that premiered on Falgun 1—Bigul, Shree Bukuro, and Shivansh—have officially suspended their theatrical screenings.

The decision comes as Nepal prepares for the upcoming General Elections on March 5 (Falgun 21), 2026. With political campaigning in full swing and the Election Commission’s 15-day campaign window starting this week, producers have realized that "Election Fever" has completely overshadowed "Cinema Fever."

Why the Sudden "Strategic Retreat"?

Producers and distributors have described this as a "safe side" move. In the battle between political rallies and film posters, politics is currently winning.

Political Dominance: The streets are filled with rallies and door-to-door campaigning. The public’s attention is fixed on the 64-point election guidelines and political debates, leaving little room for movie marketing.

Low Turnout: Despite positive early reviews for films like Bigul, audience attendance has been significantly lower than expected.

Investment Risk: Producers fear that continuing the run now would lead to a total financial loss. By pulling the films now, they hope to "re-launch" them when the political dust settles.

The Current Status of the Postponed Films

The "Election Impact" on Future Releases

The election isn't just affecting the movies currently in theaters. It has sent a ripple effect through the entire release calendar:

Empty Halls: Major dates like Falgun 8 and 15, which are usually busy, now have almost no new releases scheduled.

Wait and See: Movies like Lalima (scheduled for Falgun 29) are currently in a "wait and see" mode. If vote counting is still ongoing by late March, they may also face delays.

Actually, it’s quite a historic moment for the industry to see a "collective surrender" to the election cycle. While it protects the producers' investment in the short term, the big question remains: can these films regain their "hype" two months from now? Or at least, will the audience remember the Bigul once the election results are out?