Singalila in the Himalaya
Singalila In the Himalaya | |
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File:SingalilaDVDCovcer.jpg | |
Directed by | George Thengummoottil |
Written by | George Thengummoottil, Binoy Valson |
Produced by | Dhanraj Gurung, George Thengummoottil |
Starring |
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Cinematography | George Thengummoottil, Sooraj Puthiyedam |
Edited by | George Thengummoottil, Nishitha Iyanahally, Dheeraj Aithal |
Music by | Benjamin Tissot, Edorado Romani Capelo |
Production companies | THEINDIA.INFO,Keratoconus Foundation India, Red Panda Tours and Travels, Felis Creations |
Release dates |
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Running time | 17 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | English |
Budget | 5000 USD |
Singalila in the Himalaya is a 2016 film directed by George Thengummoottil. It tells the story of a young Keratoconus patient finding his way in life to trek through the Himalayas and finds that, the best medicine for his eyes are the sights of the beautiful mountains and valleys in the Himalayas.[1] The film progress with a 14 day long trek along the border of India and Nepal, known as the Singalila Ridge from where the team enjoys panoramic views of Mount Kangchenjunga and Mount Everest.
On the 13th day, the team reach a remote village at the border of India and Nepal, inhibited by a lone nomadic yak herder. These are the last generation of nomadic yak herders found in the Himalayas.[2] The title song Singalila in the Himalaya was sung by Adithi Sivaraman, daughter of Malayalam playback singer Chitra Iyer.
Plot
George Thengummoottil, who became blind during his childhood due to an eye disorder called Keratoconus travels through the Himalayas to find solace and peace in his life.[3][4][5]
The team follow the path of three Himalayan explorers. A major part of the trek follows the trail used by Douglas William Freshfield, the British Mountaineer who encircled Mount Kangchenjunga in 1903. On day seven, the team reach Khangla Pass at the border of India and Nepal from where the team head south along the Singalila Ridge, the border between India and Nepal following the path of Joseph Dalton Hooker, to reach West Bengal.
Filming technique
Most of the film was shot in the remote mountains of Sikkim and Nepal Himalayas, inside three national parks Khangchendzonga National Park, Singalila National Park and Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary. More than 15 potters were hired to carry the equipment and food during the expedition.[1]
The film is shot on cameras charged entirely on solar panels carried by the team during the trek. They used a homemade solar charger by modifying the car battery charger.[6][7]
Track list
No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Singali la in the Himalaya" | Aman John | Adithi Sivaraman | 1:05 |
2. | "Himalaya" | Jo Kelly | Jo Kelly | 10:27 |
Awards and nominations
Year | Film Festival | Country | Category | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 2nd Pokhara International Mountain Film Festival[8] | Pokhara, Nepal | Documentary | Mountain Documentary | Nominated |
2017 | Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) Mountain Film Festival[9][10] | New Delhi, India | Mountain Documentary | Special Recognition Award | Won |
2017 | 10th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala[11][11] | Trivandrum, Kerala | Short Documentary Competition | Nominated | |
2017 | 16th Girimitra Sammelan, Audio Visual Competition | Mumbai, India | Documentary | 3rd | Won |
2018 | TOURFILM RIGA | Riga, Latvia | Adventure | Nominated | |
2018 | Kadakam Forest and Environmental; Film Festival, Silent Valley National Park, Palakkad, Kerala | India | Forests and Environment |
Screening
- 2017 Bangalore Namma Metro with Friends of Elephant
- 2018 Palakkad Silent Valley National Park Kadakam Wildlife Festival
Further reading
- Round Kangchenjunga - A Narrative of Mountain Travel and Exploration(1903) Douglas William Freshfield
- Himalayan Journals - Notes of a Naturalist(1855) Joseph Dalton Hooker
References
- ^ a b "This filmmaker designed a solar charger to shoot in the Himalayas". Factordaily.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Singali La: In the Himalaya (2016)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Singalila in the Himalaya - Travel Documentary | George Thengummoottil | Personal Portfolio". Theindia.info. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "High on sight - Bangalore Mirror". Bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Eye and my vision". The Hindu. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Video Production Gear List: Singalila in the Himalaya Documentary". Desktop-documentaries.com. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "This Filmmaker Shot 14 Days Without Power in the Himalayas—Here's How". Nofilmschool.com. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "SCREENING SCHEDULE : 2nd Int. Mountain Film Festival 2016" (PDF). Pokharaimff.org. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "IMF Mountain Movie Festival". Mountainfilmfest.indianmountaineeringfoundation.com. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Mountain Film Festival: IMF screens 33 short adventure sports movies". Dailypioneer.com. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ a b http://idsffk.in/idsffk_2017.php[permanent dead link]