Symbolism and Meaning in Gaps in Shambhala

Gopi Sapkota

Gopi Sapkota

The movie ‘Shambhala’ is now talk of town in Nepal, and may be in other countries among the movie makers and critics.

It’s been couple of days that I watched this movie, and it still reels in my head; and I think that’s the success of the movie.

If anyone asks what the movie is about, I will package the answers with three words: Himalayas, Culture and Buddhism.

It’s the story of mountain’s life and culture, where a girl is married to three brothers. Then it further shows the struggle of the girl.

While watching the movie, it looks like that whole movie is roaming around the search for Tashi, who did not return home from Lhasa, after hearing the news of Pema’s pregnancy, as the rumours spread that she was having illicit relationship with Ram sir, one of the teachers from the local school, where Dawa, the youngest husband of  Pema goes for his study. Pema was pregnant and the villagers think that she is having Ram sir’s baby in her womb.

The central question in the movie is – who is the father of the unborn child?  Few people ask the same question to Pema, but she doesn’t tell anything to anyone. Her silence generates further questions and increases the volume of suspicion which was already prevailing in the society.

In one of the scenes, there is a conversation between Rinpoche and Pema; where Pema tells Rinpoche that she had a dream where, the yak slowly walked towards her and stared with compassionate eyes. Then the yak entered into her womb. She further tells that a golden light emanated from her body, and she transformed into Shambhala.

Then Rinpoche replied, ‘Shambhala, that’s my reincarnations wish land. Now you will fulfil my long awaited wish.’

This is where the Director leaves his mark showing where he is leading to, but the audience’s expectation is more towards finding out the truth about the father of unborn child.

Another scene I like is the one where Karma and Pema are in a mission to find Tashi and are resting in the hill. Karma finds a flower and tells Pema that ‘This flower will be beautiful on your hair’

Then Pema replies, ‘No. Let the flowers bloom.’

This shows the switch of Karma’s inclination to worldly affairs, and Pema’s to spiritual. In an ordinary situation, Pema would love to have the flower whereas Karma would protect the flower from being plucked.

That was just a temporary feeling of Karma resulted from their togetherness for a while; and it was a way of Karma expressing his love to Pema. However, Karma quickly switches back to his spiritual world.

Another scene I like in terms of its artistic presentation is the one outside the house of an elderly lady, who had shared some information about Tashi to Pema and Karma, and had also mentioned that Tashi supported her during the hard times, and Tashi still respects her like his mother.

In the scene, we see Pema milking the yak and letting the calf to have milk once she gets some of the milk. This is when the mother figure arrives with some khadas, and offers them to Karma and Pema wishing them all the best. Her love to Pema and Karma has been symbolised through the yak feeding its calf.

The movie focuses on detailing and it moves slowly until the last minute. However, it speeds up towards the end. It leaves that gap for audiences to fill in. And, I think the meanings are hidden in the gaps. A good film maker tries to tell the meaning without telling and showing directly but leaving it in the gaps.  

Pema meets Tashi in the cave although it has not been shown directly but the camera moves from Pema’s point of view; as such audience needs to understand it without any further explanation.

The words carved by Tashi in the cave stones are to communicate his thoughts and feelings that were carved in his mind and heart for a while. The power of thoughts in his mind is so strong that they are like the words carved in the stone. Tashi returns home with Pema following his expression of thoughts and feelings to her. This part was also hidden in the gap, and audience were to understand it.

I don't want to talk about how the movie ends as it would spoil the curiosity of audiences, who are still to watch it.

The mountains have been beautifully captured by creative hands of the cinematographer. Some of the shots were like beautiful painting.

It's not an easy task to make a movie in the Himalayan region, as it demands huge amount of motivation, dedication and patience; for which the entire team of the movie deserves a big appreciation.

I congratulate the director Min Bahadur Bham and his team for the beautiful and meaningful creation. And, I wish all the best for further success of the movie.