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.
Singalila In the Himalaya | |
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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 |
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.
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.
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]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Singali la in the Himalaya" | Aman John | Adithi Sivaraman | 1:05 |
2. | "Himalaya" | Jo Kelly | Jo Kelly | 10:27 |
Year | Film Festival | Country | Category | Award | Result |
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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] | 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 | ||
2019 | CMS Vatavaran Film Festival[12] | India | Celebrating Himalayas | Nominated |