Churning passion into films

In a private office in Changbangdu sits the man dreaming and creating films that have won the hearts of thousands of Bhutanese movie buffs.

The office is not your typical workplace. It rather reflects the warm creative bent of its occupant.  And that occupant is no other than the 35-year-old Kuenley Tshering Dorji, a filmmaker, an amateur photographer, and a real estate businessman.

He is the creator of the successful TV series Mee-Tshay and the director of feature films like Raymen, Migthruel, and Ngyendro, to name a few.

Kuenley Tshering Dorji claims to be a self-trained filmmaker, although he did do a short stint with a visiting crews from Granada TV, UK. His says people’s take on the local films, that they are a poor imitation of the Indian cinema, is wrong.

“We are all human beings with similar sensibilities, and universally, stories and themes are often same. After all, we live in the same planet,” he says.

He wants to make an art film, although he accepts that the Bhutanese audience is not yet ready for art films. In commercial films he is sometimes forced to compromise creativity.

One recurring theme, the refrain if you want to call it, in all his films is the use of rural scenes.  This, he says, is his way of representing the rural section of the society. “When you make a film, you need to reflect your society in a true sense, and not always be driven by profits,” he says. “Through the rural scenes I highlight the plight of our country’s backwaters.”

For Kuenley Tshering Dorji, making films means hard work, discipline, and sheer determination. “Once I make my mind, nothing can stop me. That is me,” he says, in fluent English.

Born to affluent parents, Kuenley Tshering Dorji is the eldest of the siblings. He is from Thimphu and has a university degree from Chandigarh, India. Presently, he is shooting a TV serial.

Duptho Wangchu, a motion photographer and visual editor, who is working with Kuenley, says he is very creative individual. “Working with Kuenley has taught me a lot. He is very particular of thing he does. His ability to improvise a scene or story while shooting is fantastic. Moreover, he is a man of impeccable integrity.”

His childhood friend, Tenzin Namgyal, a Punakha Town Thuemi and contractor, describes Kuenley Tshering Dorji as down to earth. “If someone asks him for help, he will leave his own work to help that person. And films are his passion.”

Kuenley Tshering Dorji is waiting to release his latest film “I am Sonam Kuenga Namgyal”. The film is about a boy who is orphaned at birth. The sudden death of his mother leaves him in the custody of his uncle. Coincidentally, he meets his paternal uncle in his village, whereupon he is forced to go and meet his father who lives in Thimphu, the son of a very affluent businessman.

While in the capital city, Sonam Kuenga Namgyal faces a series of hardships, the foremost being acceptance by his father, and later his stepmother, the main antagonist in the film.

“I am very excited about the film. It is a very special film. The audience can relate to the story. It is a story of pain, trial and tribulation. However, for the first time in Bhutan, the film is shot in the red cam. The red cams are used by Hollywood. So, the audience is bound to feel the difference,” he says.

By Pema Tenzin

One Response to “Churning passion into films”

1. kinzang chhoden says:

   May 6, 2012 at 7:38 pm

   yap….dis is absoultly da true feelin u hv got n ya i agree wit it…..m happy dat ds movie hv gained lots of pepals luv n hapy too 4 being da best movie 4 de year 2012….bhutanese pepal in search of perfect thngs,dey loose de true thng coz dey don knw dat perfection is fantasy n truth is reality………nwaz congras mr.kinley n ua whole team 4 suc afford n ya ll hop 2 se de same in future…….<3<3<3<3

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