Director Pratap Subba, considered the pioneer of original Nepali films, has passed away. He was living in Darjeeling and passed away at the age of 75 on Thursday morning during treatment at the hospital. Born in Darjeeling in 1947, Subba has produced and directed 7 feature films, 6 documentaries, 5 video films, 13 telefilms and 5 plays.
Pratap Subba, who made ‘Paraal ko Agao’ from Darjeeling, has directed films like ‘Baachna chahane’, ‘Kahi Andhyaro Kahi Ujayalo’, ‘Bhishma Pratigya’, ‘Paraal ko Aagi’ was the first original film made outside Nepal. Subba, who came to Nepal in the 40s, made some films and telefilms and returned to Darjeeling in the 50s. Since then he has not produced and directed films.
Last year, while coming to Nepal to exchange experience in film production and direction at the fourth edition of the Nepal International Film Festival (NIF), he complained that there is unhealthy competition in Nepali films. He said, ‘Earlier there was healthy competition between films. There is an unhealthy competition in films these days. Unnecessary political interference has started.’
According to director Prakash Sayami, Pratap Subba started working on ‘Sapna Katipaya’ before ‘Paraal ko Aago’. However, after that film was closed and the reel was burnt and destroyed, Sayami said that Subba directed ‘Palal Ago’ based on the story of Guru Prasad Mainali. He considers Pratap Subba to be the most important director after BS Thapa and Prakash Thapa in Nepali film industry.
Pratap Subba, the director of ‘Paraal ko Ago’, passed away
