Nepali Cinema Festive Box Office Clash | AI Generated Image
Kathmandu. Nepal’s theatrical calendar is heading into one of its busiest periods of the year, with 11 Nepali films currently scheduled to reach cinemas between Asoj 23 and Kartik 26.
From action and survival thrillers to family dramas, social comedies and franchise sequels, the Dashain-Tihar season will offer audiences a wide range of choices. For filmmakers, however, the packed calendar also means tougher competition for screens, showtimes and audience attention.
The most crowded windows fall around Asoj 30-31 and Kartik 20, when several major Nepali releases will arrive within hours of each other.
Asoj 23: ‘Tunnel 26’ and ‘Akshara’
The festive release rush begins on October 9, or Asoj 23, with two Nepali films scheduled to open on the same day.
‘Tunnel 26: The Curse Beneath the Mountain’, a Nepal-Bhutan-India collaboration, takes audiences into an underground crisis involving a tunnel disaster and mysterious events.
The film stars Anoop Bikram Shahi, Anna Sharma and Sangay Tsheltrim among its principal cast.
Also opening that day is Vinay Raj Poudel-directed ‘Akshara’, a family and social drama starring Sushil Sitaula and Nancy Khadka.
The story revolves around the consequences that unfold after a daughter is pushed into a marriage against her wishes. The film has also received a Universal certificate from the censor board.
Asoj 30: ‘12 Gaun 2’ vs ‘Aa Bata Aama 2’
The competition intensifies on October 16, or Asoj 30, when ‘12 Gaun 2’ and ‘Aa Bata Aama 2’ are scheduled to arrive together.
Directed by Biraj Bhatt, ‘12 Gaun 2’ features Samir Bhatt, Biraj Bhatt and Anoop Bikram Shahi among its cast. Its action-heavy promotional material has already placed the film among the prominent Dashain releases.
Chandra Pant’s ‘Aa Bata Aama 2’, meanwhile, stars Paul Shah, Bipana Thapa and Malika Mahat.
Its promotional campaign points toward a blend of romance, family emotion and the story of a mother waiting for her son during the festive season.
Asoj 31: ‘Chha Maya Chhapakkai 2’ Arrives on Phulpati
Just one day later, another major Nepali title joins the festive race.
Dipendra Lama-directed ‘Chha Maya Chhapakkai 2’ is scheduled to open on Asoj 31, coinciding with Phulpati.
The film stars Deepak Raj Giri, Keki Adhikari and Sanisha Bhattarai and follows the 2019 social comedy ‘Chha Maya Chhapakkai’.
Its promotional campaign is already underway, with the title song released ahead of its theatrical opening.
With ‘12 Gaun 2’ and ‘Aa Bata Aama 2’ arriving on Asoj 30 and ‘Chha Maya Chhapakkai 2’ following a day later, three prominent Nepali films will be competing within a 48-hour window.
Kartik 6: ‘Kabaddi 5’ Extends the Dashain Rush
The festive box-office activity will continue after the main Dashain celebrations.
‘Kabaddi 5: After the Final Match’, directed by Ram Babu Gurung, is scheduled to reach cinemas on October 23, or Kartik 6.
Dayahang Rai returns as Kaji, with Bijay Baral reprising the role of BK and Buddhi Tamang returning as Chhantyal. Bipin Karki and Rishma Gurung are also part of the film’s expanded cast.
As the fifth entry in one of Nepali cinema’s most established franchises, ‘Kabaddi 5’ adds another high-profile title to the festive calendar.
Kartik 13: ‘Pariwar’
Madan Thapa-directed ‘Pariwar’ is scheduled for release on October 30, or Kartik 13.
The film stars Kameshwar Chaurasiya and Laxmi Bardewa in the lead roles.
Its first poster immediately drew attention by presenting Kameshwar in women’s clothing and makeup while Laxmi appeared in a male-character look.
The cast also includes Binita Basnet and Lunibha Tuladhar.
Kartik 20: Three Films on the Same Day
Another major festive box-office clash is scheduled for November 6, or Kartik 20.
‘Panch Pandav’, ‘Maya Bhane Kai Yasto Hola’ and Sagar Lamsal ‘Bale’-starrer ‘Dalle Le Entry Maryo’ are currently lined up to release on the same day.
Directed by Basanta Niraula, ‘Panch Pandav’ features Hari Bansha Acharya, Aryan Sigdel, Jitu Nepal, Mahesh Tripathi and Sushil Sitaula, with the film drawing symbolic inspiration from the five Pandava characters of the Mahabharata.
Rekha Thapa’s ‘Maya Bhane Kai Yasto Hola’ is also scheduled for the same festive window.
Raj Giri-directed ‘Dalle Le Entry Maryo’ stars Sagar Lamsal ‘Bale’ alongside Roshani Khadka, Ramesh Budhathoki, Hemanta Budhathoki, Rabindra Jha and Bishal Pahadi. The production team announced Kartik 20 as its new theatrical date after an earlier release plan was postponed.
With three Nepali films arriving on the same Friday, screen allocation, showtimes and early audience response are likely to be key factors during the Tihar box-office race.
‘Zero Degree’ Moves to January 2027
‘Zero Degree’ is no longer part of the Dashain-Tihar release race. The dark comedy starring Bijay Baral has moved to Magh 15, 2083 / January 29, 2027. The film is jointly directed by Sajan Kafle and Aakash Baral and follows an unusual situation in a remote village where a deep freezer has to be transported to preserve the bodies of deceased parents until their children return from abroad.
Kartik 26: ‘Batulo Jun’ Moves Out of the Dashain Race
The festive release cycle continues with ‘Batulo Jun’ on November 12, or Kartik 26.
Directed by Bhuwan KC, the film stars Anmol KC and Princy Khatiwada in the leading roles.
‘Batulo Jun’ had originally been scheduled for October 16 during the crowded Dashain window. The production team later shifted the release to November 12 after considering concerns over screen and show availability with several other Nepali films arriving around the same period.
The move gives the Anmol KC-starrer a separate post-Tihar theatrical window rather than placing it directly in the Asoj 30 clash.
More Choices for Audiences, More Pressure for Producers
The 2026 festive calendar brings together established franchises, sequels and new concepts within a relatively short theatrical window.
For audiences, that means more choices.
For producers and distributors, it means more competition.
The Asoj 30-31 period and the three-way Kartik 20 lineup will place particular importance on screen allocation, early audience response, word of mouth and first-weekend performance.
Foreign releases arriving during the same period could add another layer of competition for screens.
That makes this Dashain-Tihar season more than a contest between individual stars or banners. The bigger question will be which stories among these 11 Nepali releases connect strongly enough with audiences to maintain momentum after their opening weekend.
