Nepal Documentary Charts Year-Long Journey of Buddhist Statue

KATHMANDU— A documentary film following the creation of a statue of Milarepa, a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism, has been screened in Kathmandu, shining a light on Nepal’s traditional sculpture craft.

The film, The Making of the Statue Milarepa, was made by Uwe Luck, a German businessman who has worked closely with Nepal for more than 50 years. It took a full year to film the statue-making process from beginning to end.

Mr Luck said he hoped the film would help preserve skills that risk being lost.

“I never imagined I would become a filmmaker. But I realised that video documentation could play a vital role in preserving the skills of traditional Nepali craftsmanship — and that inspired me, even past the age of eighty,” he said.

Amarlal Shrestha, a renowned Nepali handicraft businessman who coordinated the film, said the documentary challenged common assumptions about how Nepali art is made.

“This film shows that Nepali art is not made by machines. It is built on generations of sweat, devotion and patience,” Mr Shrestha said.

Three sculptors — Sabindra Shakya, Sitaram B.K. and Rinu Shakya — are featured in the film alongside child artists Ronith Pradhan of Gems School, and Aryav Lal Shrestha and Arya Shrestha of Nisarga Batika School.

Mr Luck first came to Nepal in 1973 and later exported Nepali handicrafts to Germany with his late wife Tudo Billo. He previously made a documentary titled Singing Bowl.

The screening at Manaslu Hotel was attended by Nepal Tourism Board CEO Hikmat Singh Aire, FNCCI Vice President Naresh Lal Shrestha, Nepal Handicraft Federation President Ravindra Shakya and former secretary Shankar Prasad Pandey, among others. The programme was hosted by Kabita Joshi Shrestha.