Kathmandu : He has scaled it. He’s reached the top of the cliff. He spreads wide his arms in uninhibited abandon. All he’s got to do now is let go... and fall... free as a bird to scale newer heights.

He’s ‘unstoppable’.

The journey that began when he was a five-year-old as he navigated the steps of Nyatapole has come to an end but opened up newer pastures for him to explore.

For him, the sky’s the limit.

Something that began as simply as taking the next step gave birth to his desire to reach the top. The tasks get more difficult with passing years throwing new challenges his way, but he’s got the will and the spirit to do it.

At nine, the vast empty field beckoned him. He’s 12 and he’s climbed that mangled tree. Then at 16 he conquers the rock face. But his quest doesn’t end here. He’s got bigger dreams to dream and higher mountains to scale. He steps off the cliff cause he knows what he is capable of.

The Himalayan Times’ ‘Unstoppable’ TVC and print ads, perhaps the most expensive ad ever made in Nepal, captures the indomitable spirit of THT. Each new day is not an obstacle, but a new challenge, a new adventure the paper encounters and triumphs over.

Shot in various locations like Bhaktapur, Pame, Khumai and Korchan, THT ‘Unstoppable’ personifies the ‘never-say-die’ spirit with which the newspaper has been growing. Starting as a 12-page daily, the new year 2066 BS marks THT’s giant leap as it is ‘now 16’ pages of quality read encompassing more topics and issues.

Trying times, scorn, difficulties, other problem, THT has seen it all. But it has come out, not unscathed, but wiser and determined to do even better than today.

The Himalayan Times has taken the leap; now it will be soaring to newer heights and will be taking its readers with it for the adventures that will unfold in the journey ahead.

And those responsible for creating an ad that matches THT’s spirit is a team of brilliant professionals. Around 50 people were involved in this ‘unstoppable’ venture. Conceptualised by Terence D’ Costa, Creative Head of Echo Advertising Agency, the shooting of the TVC took around 32 days.

A daring concept, the execution required high-end expertise like rock climbing and skydiving. The last shot — parachute with The Himalayan Times printed on it — was shot with tandem pilot. Cinematographer Kishor Karki flew in another parachute with pilot Ajay Sharma to catch that shot in the best way possible.

A helicopter took the round shot when the 16-year-old spreads out his arms at the top of the cliff.

The crew’s ‘unstoppable’ spirit also came to fore when they overcame obstacles during the shooting. The team had to drop their first choice of location — Jomsom — due to bad weather.

Then during the shooting of the TVC itself, the selected child actor started crying. So, they had to pick a local toddler for the Nyatapole shot. And the wall that the child peeps over was blown down by the strong winds. As such the shooting had to be rescheduled.

However, none of these things stopped the crew from doing their job and that too to the best of their ability.

Hence, a great ad.

As a toast to the ‘Unstoppable’ spirit, it is definietly the undying and unstoppable love and loyalty of readers that has kept THT soaring higher and higher. This new campaign salutes this very spirit that has bound us all together.