Bollywood legend Dev Anand, who has rescued many a heroine from the clutches of villains on screen, has now been approached to repeat the feat in real life by a neighbor in distress - the Nepalese film industry.

The Himalayan kingdom regards the feisty actor as a special friend ever since he shot his film "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" here a long time ago, fuelling interest in Nepal as a travel destination as well as a locale for film shooting.

Today, as the Nepalese film industry gears up to host the first national film festival in its over 40-year history, the organizers, the state-run Film Development Board, have asked the actor for his presence.

Nine years ago, when Nepal's communist guerrillas began an armed struggle, they dealt a severe blow to the fledgling film industry besides the government and the economy.

Explosions, curfew and transport shutdowns put off cinemagoers, resulting in the closure of almost 50 percent of the 400-odd theatres in the kingdom. The number of new films dropped and actors and cine workers were driven to hunting for alternatives outside.

The Board hopes the first National Film Festival, planned in July, will give a fresh impetus to the industry.

"We hope it will give momentum to the industry reeling under political uncertainty," said Krishna Malla, veteran Nepalese director, actor and member of the Board.

"We also want to promote quality Nepalese films and create a process for our films to participate in international film festivals."

The Board has earmarked Nepalese Rs.12.5 million for the festival. It will put up Rs.1 million from its own coffers, raise Rs.2.5 million from sponsors and hopes the government will provide the rest.

A three-member team from Nepal attended India's national film festival in Goa at the invitation of the Indian government and will use the experience to organise the kingdom's own film extravaganza.

The Nepalese film industry has very old ties with India. Its first film, "Satya Harischandra", made in the 1950s, was first shot in Hindi and then dubbed in Nepalese. The first really Nepalese film, "Aama", was directed by Hira Singh, who hailed from Darjeeling in India.

While the first film award ceremony was started by the Lions Club Bishalbazar 19 years ago, Indian sponsors like Dabur Nepal and Nepal Lever have in recent times given a new boost to such events.

Noted film director Tulsi Ghimire has suggested well-known Indian directors be invited to be on the panel of judges. The people Ghimire has in mind range from Gulzar and Shyam Benegal to Assamese director Jahnu Barua.

The organisers also plan to invite directors and actors from other SAARC countries, especially Bangladesh and Pakistan, whose film industries too have close links with their Nepalese counterpart.

However, the insurgency will continue to cast a shadow on the film festival.

Nepalese director-producer Bhagwan Das Shrestha, who was behind an earlier awards ceremony, was gunned down by suspected Maoist insurgents earlier this month.