New Film ‘Four Rivers Six Ranges’ Spotlights Forgotten Tibetan Resistance History
A new historical drama, Four Rivers Six Ranges, explores the untold story of Tibetan resistance fighters as geopolitical tensions between India and China rise.
POLICY WIRE — Mustang, Nepal — While filming in the rugged mountains of Nepal’s Mustang region, actor Tenzin Rigzin Phurpatsang found himself physically struggling with the thin air that his ancestors had inhabited for centuries. The 37-year-old model, who was born in exile in India, was on location for the historical drama Four Rivers Six Ranges, a project centered on the resistance fighters who facilitated the Dalai Lama’s 1959 escape from Tibet.
The narrative holds deep personal significance for Phurpatsang, whose grandfather, Yeshi Wangyal, was killed in action after returning to Tibet from CIA training to lead a guerrilla mission. Through the film, director Shenpenn Khymsar aims to reignite global interest in Tibet’s history at a time when the region receives diminishing international attention.
Production of the film was a clandestine effort, as Khymsar feared that Chinese surveillance in Nepal would prevent him from obtaining necessary permits. He submitted a deceptive screenplay titled The Himalayan Robin Hood and condensed the shooting schedule from over 45 days to just 19, relying on a cast of non-professional actors who were trained on-site.
The film’s release in India was delayed until September 18, coinciding with a visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping as India and China worked to mend diplomatic ties. Khymsar reported that the multiplex operator PVR INOX postponed the debut due to external pressure, though the Indian government did not comment on the matter.
📄 POLICY WIRE WHITEPAPER PUBLISHED: PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY PRIORITIES
Anthropologist Carole McGranahan of the University of Colorado Boulder noted that the film is significant because it offers a uniquely Tibetan perspective on their own history. She added that the upcoming biopic Tenzing, which focuses on mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, may further broaden public awareness of Tibetan narratives.
Geopolitical expert Manoj Kewalramani of the Takshashila Institution highlighted that the future of Tibet remains a sensitive issue, particularly regarding the eventual succession of the 91-year-old Dalai Lama. While the Dalai Lama maintains that his successor should be chosen via traditional Buddhist practices, Beijing insists on its authority to approve the reincarnation.
As India and China navigate complex economic and territorial interests, including competing claims over Arunachal Pradesh, the status of the 70,000-strong Tibetan exile community in India remains a point of friction. Kewalramani noted that during recent meetings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly assured President Xi that India would not permit anti-China activities on its territory.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
