Government Directs Authorities to Deny Screening Approval to Films Affecting Relations with Friendly Countries

Dragon Media News Desk

The government has decided not to grant screening approval in Nepal to films whose storylines could adversely affect the country’s security, peace and public order, or its relations with friendly nations.

The Audiovisual and Broadcasting Division under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has sent an official letter to the Film Development Board, directing it to ensure full compliance with the existing legal provisions.

The ministry reminded the Film Development Board, which recommends films to the Central Film Censor Board for examination, of Section 8(3) of the Motion Picture (Production, Exhibition and Distribution) Act, 2026.

The provision states that the Film Censor Board shall not grant screening permission if any film, or any part of it, is found to be detrimental to Nepal’s security, peace and public order, or its friendly relations with other countries.

The ministry has instructed the authorities to enforce the provision strictly. It stated that if any film containing such material is submitted for censorship approval, permission for its exhibition cannot be granted under Section 8(3) of the Act.

The Film Development Board has also been directed to inform producers, distributors and other stakeholders about the legal provision and to maintain the necessary coordination with all concerned agencies.

The instruction comes against the backdrop of a controversy last week surrounding the Indian film Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh. The debate reportedly centred on whether the film’s storyline could affect Nepal’s relations with a friendly country.