Caravan made history by being the first Nepali film to be nominated for the Oscar Awards. The film shot exclusively on the rough mountain terrains of Dolpa, the biggest district of Nepal, was nominated by the US Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences for the 72nd annual Oscar Awards (2000) under the foreign film category, along with four other films including “All About My Mother” from Spain which bagged the award.
Oscar nominated Nepali movie Caravan (Himalaya)
Initially called as a boring documentary on mountain people’s livelihood by some, the film went on to win applauds from not only the tourists, who are naturally enthralled by scenes of the Himalayas, but also the local population who are otherwise fed exclusively with the Bollywood formula films. The film’s offbeat storyline instantly clicked with the bored Nepalese film-goers who had been looking for a change.
The film basically portrays the life of salt traders of the region who lead yak caravans along a long and diffcult trek across the Himalayas to Tibet. It depicts the harsh life of the mountain people and their strange rituals. The film revolves around the central character of Tinle that is played out by Thilen Lhondup. Tinle is the chieftain of the salt traders, whose eldest son has just died. He refuses to allow the young Karma, whom he accuses of being responsible for his son’s death, to lead the caravan. Karma gathers young members of the clan and sets off for Tibet leading the caravan on his own. Stung by such a rebellion, Tinle with the help from his old friends and with his grandson, who would the head the caravan, decides against all odds to set out for the formidable destination.
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