Shambhala’ chosen at the Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar) has chosen ‘Shambhala’ as the representative film of Nepal for the 97th Academy Awards to be announced in 2025. Committee Chairman Raju Khatri Chettri issuing a press release on Saturday informed that the movie ‘Shambala’ will be included in the 97th Academy Award competition representing Nepal. According to the statement, the only application received for the Oscar competition this year is ‘Shambala’. The movie has fulfilled all the criteria of Oscar award. Shambala has been chosen for the award based on the technical aspect of the movie, the narrative presentation, the emotional analysis of the characters and the artistic quality of the presentation. The 97th Oscar Awards will be organized on March 3, 2025 in Los Angeles, USA. 

Based on Buddhist philosophy, this film has presented the deep rooted cultural system of the high Himalayan region of Nepal as a plot. The film revolves around polygamy in Dolpa, traditional trade with Lhasa, customs and culture, Buddhism and myths. The film describes the story of the struggle of pregnant Pema, who has reached Lhasa for business in search of her husband Tasi. The myth about rebirth found in the Himalayan culture is shown in the movie. “Shambhala” is not a dialogue but a visual film. In the movie, the actors speak in Dolpo language. Somewhere only Nepali language is used. The dialogue has been ‘subtitled’ in English and Nepali. Meen has done more acting in the scenes than in the story of the movie.