Barack Obama’s decision not to personally meet the Dalai Lama at the White House this week is creating controversy, with many calling it an obvious move to pacify the Chinese government and ignore the plight of the Tibetan people.
But in a CNN interview, the Dalai Lama himself expressed no such disappointment, and was optimistic about a future meeting.
Meanwhile, there may be some good news on the horizon—at least for the Tibetan cause. Bollywood has been abuzz with news of an upcoming film that’s to begin shooting next month. The Lost Country will star American, Indian, Nepalese and local talent. And 20 of the actors in the film will be cast from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. It will focus on the condition of Tibetan exiles around the world and their struggles with culture and identity.
The Lost Country is written and produced by an exiled Tibetan, Kargyur Rinpoche, who will also be directing. He says: ‘It took me more than 12 years to realise this film… I am hopeful that (it) will reflect the true picture of the plight of people of Tibet—both inside and outside the country.’
Rinpoche has recruited a professional Bollywood film crew from Mumbai and the film’s budget is set at $3 million, making it the most expensive Tibetan film ever made. According to the Indo-American News Service, about 140,000 Tibetans currently live in exile.