A new regulation is set to compel cinema halls in the Valley to report box office proceedings from July 17, the start of next fiscal year. This regulation is now set to bring added transparency about ticket sales, while also bringing transactions under the scrutiny of the income tax department. After repeated petition from film producers, Film Development Board had announced its intention to have a box office tabulator in February. President of the Board Nikita Paudel said that preparations for the enactment of the law is into its final stage; she emphasised that those film halls that show reluctance to come in the fold will be penalised.

“By mid July, box office tabulator will be enforced in all film theatres in the Valley,” Paudel said, “Legal action will be taken against those who don’t comply.” According to Film production, Distribution and Exhibition Act 2028, Chief District Officer can revoke the license of a film theatre, if they fail to comply with the regulation. “There are some film theatres that are trying to dilly dally with installing  the tabulator,” Paudel informed, “If they still don’t start tabulating by the mandated time, there will be no alternative to legal action.”

After the formation of the new government, as part of their 100 day plan, the Ministry of Information and Communication had developed the agenda of enforcing the regulation. Accordingly, a technical committee had been formed with members comprising from Film Development Board, Nepal Telecom, Ministry of Information, and the income tax department. The committee is working on the final stage, according to Paudel. “Issues mostly came from multiplexes,” Paudel said, “But they have formed their own committees to find a way to incorporate the change.”

While the regulation is said to be enforced from July 17 in the Valley, film theatres have until January of next year to make the change. E-ticketing system, whose information can be accessed by multiple parties, will be used to ensure the workings of the regulation. “This news has have made us very happy. It will help the entire film industry,” says Akash Adhikari, president of Film Producer Association, “We are willing to help the government to make the industry transparent in every possible way.”