KATHMANDU: Filmmaker and actor Nischal Basnet has called for the abolition of Nepal’s film regulatory bodies following a court order halting the release of Lalibazar.

The Patan High Court issued a short term interim order suspending the film’s screening until May 5 after a writ petition was filed by Roshani Nepali, citing objections to its portrayal of the Badi community.

Directed by Yam Thapa, the film was set for nationwide release on May 1 despite having received clearance from the Central Board of Film Censor earlier this week.

Reacting on Facebook, Basnet said such last minute legal interventions undermine filmmakers. “While court orders must be respected, repeated bans just before release break the morale of creators,” he wrote.

He further argued that if films continue to face legal hurdles after clearance, the existing registration and censorship system should be restructured, suggesting that oversight be handled directly through courts instead.