New Delhi:
After its world premiere andimpressive response at Osians Cinefan, Arvind Iyer's debutfeature Drapchi has been selected for the 28th WarsawInternational Film Festival in October.
Written by Pooja Ladha Surti and produced by Iceberg NineFilms, the 78-minute-long film, shot in four countries andstarring acclaimed Tibetan Opera singer Namgyal Lhamo, will bescreened in the World Today section of the festival.
Drapchi attracted a motley crowd of world cinema loversat Osian's where both Iyer and Lhamo were present.
Asked about the response the film received at thefestival, Iyer told PTI, "A scene when Yiga Gyalnang (NamgyalLhamo) is seen running her hands on a barbed wire fence on anicy cold winter day, when her voice says 'As long as WiseSpirits live, Tibet will Live' was very much appreciated.
"That one liner juxtaposed with Lhamo's explosive track'Changkha' and the barbed wire that pinched hearts andtriggered a lump in the throat seemed to encapsulate the timesthat Tibetans live in."
The film has been signed on by Hollywood whiz andpublicist Linda Brown who has worked on movies such as 2012Sundance Festival winners Valley of Saints and Middle ofNowhere.
According to him, it is a relatively "difficult decisionfor film festivals as anything Tibet related always has anantenna or two going up somewhere politically".
Asked if he felt that his work would fan trouble with theChinese, Iyer says, "A lot of people ask me that and I don'tknow what to say anymore because I try and look at Tibet froma 'Tibetan-inside-Tibet' perspective and I have alwaysmaintained that the Tibet belongs to Tibetans.
"However, there is a systematic run down of tradition andculture inside of Tibet and this is where artists such asNamgyal Lhamo continue to play such a massive role in keepingthat cultural flag flying high."
He says his next untitled feature which also be producedby Iceberg Nine Films and will have the Tibetan songstress inan "equally important and powerful role".
Written by Pooja Ladha Surti and produced by Iceberg NineFilms, the 78-minute-long film, shot in four countries andstarring acclaimed Tibetan Opera singer Namgyal Lhamo, will bescreened in the World Today section of the festival.
Drapchi attracted a motley crowd of world cinema loversat Osian's where both Iyer and Lhamo were present.
Asked about the response the film received at thefestival, Iyer told PTI, "A scene when Yiga Gyalnang (NamgyalLhamo) is seen running her hands on a barbed wire fence on anicy cold winter day, when her voice says 'As long as WiseSpirits live, Tibet will Live' was very much appreciated.
"That one liner juxtaposed with Lhamo's explosive track'Changkha' and the barbed wire that pinched hearts andtriggered a lump in the throat seemed to encapsulate the timesthat Tibetans live in."
The film has been signed on by Hollywood whiz andpublicist Linda Brown who has worked on movies such as 2012Sundance Festival winners Valley of Saints and Middle ofNowhere.
According to him, it is a relatively "difficult decisionfor film festivals as anything Tibet related always has anantenna or two going up somewhere politically".
Asked if he felt that his work would fan trouble with theChinese, Iyer says, "A lot of people ask me that and I don'tknow what to say anymore because I try and look at Tibet froma 'Tibetan-inside-Tibet' perspective and I have alwaysmaintained that the Tibet belongs to Tibetans.
"However, there is a systematic run down of tradition andculture inside of Tibet and this is where artists such asNamgyal Lhamo continue to play such a massive role in keepingthat cultural flag flying high."
He says his next untitled feature which also be producedby Iceberg Nine Films and will have the Tibetan songstress inan "equally important and powerful role".
