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Acho Namgyal: a film on 20th century Tibetan musician

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

A still from docu-drama film Acho Namgyal: written, directed and produced by Sonam Tashi (aka Acho Danny), who is based in Canada. The 80-minute film was premiered in Mcleod Ganj on 13 February 2010.File photo/Acho Namgyal.com/Vivica Henningsen/India

A new Tibetan docu-drama Acho Namgyal premiered today in Mcleod Ganj. It is about a mid-20th century Tibetan musician of the same name as the film. He was blind in both the eyes, but becomes one of the greatest musicians of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

Sonam Tashi (aka Acho Danny) who resides in Canada, himself a musician and graduate of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), has made the film. “I feel proud to be premiering the Acho Namgyal film at the capital of the Tibetan Diaspora,” he said.

Acho Namgyal was one of the last great classical musicians that Tibetans saw on the eve of the Chinese invasion of their country in 1959. Born to a poor family, fate would have it that his eyes were blinded after a crow plucked them when he was a baby. A nobleman rescues the boy from poverty and provided him the opportunity to study music. He amazed his teachers with his talent, and eventually became the most sought after musician in Lhasa. Nangma songs such as Acho Sotop, Draul Nyenkong, Tala Shepa and Dawai Shunu are some of the original songs composed by the musician.

Making the film has been a long time dream of Sonam Tashi. It took the director 15 years to research and make the film. The film is of 80 minutes in duration and is in Tibetan. The seed money for the production of the film came from the Rowell Fund, administered by the International Campaign for Tibet in Washington DC. Filmmakers Eric and Vivica Henningsen and the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts chipped in their support.

Sonam says the film was not only made by a professional team, but has also used authentic costumes, props and language to retain originality. TIPA artistes Norbu Samphel and Tenzin Choenyi have acted as the lead male and female roles playing Acho Namgyal and his wife Tsering Youdon. Other renowned TIPA artistes: Sonam Phuntsok, Samten Dhondup, Tsering Paldon, Tenzin Donsel and Tsultrim Dolma have also acted in the film.

Tibetan scholars and musicologists such as Maja Tsewang Gyurme, Sampho Rinpoche, Nornang, Sholkhang Sonam Dargyal, and Tashi Tsering of Amnye Machen Institute have been featured in the film giving their commentaries. Some of them who are still alive had seen and jammed with Acho Namgyal in 1940s and 50s.

These resource persons not only speak of the life and times of Acho Namgyal, but also speak about the nuances of classical Tibetan music in the genre of Nangma and Toeshey music. The film will be a feast for those who are interested in these genres, and will inspire the younger generation of Tibetans to cherish the good old Tibetan classical music. The director hopes to pass on the tradition from generation to generation.

The film has some old photos dating back to the 1930s of Acho Namgyal in concert with his band. The film has been shot in the United States, Switzerland, and India over the last two years. Some of the footage such as the interview with Maja Tsewang Gyurme was taken in 1995.

It will be publicly screened at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, Mcleod Ganj, on 20 February. It will be then screened at different Tibetan settlements in the exile Tibetan community. A Nangma song and music competition will he organised to inspire the young Tibetans. The winner will be given a scholarship of three months to study Tibetan music at TIPA for free.

Copyright © 2010 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun