A legendary singer’s life, courage, and music inspire generations.

Official Selection

The Nightingale of Tibet (2013) chronicles the heroic life of one of the greatest singers of our times. The film celebrates her courage, artistry, and journey against all odds, blending biographical storytelling with musical and cultural narratives.

Duration: 1h 15min

Language: English / Tibetan / Other

Filming Location: Tibet / International

Year: 2013

Award: [Add Award / Festival Name]

Director & Creative Team

Director: IYER (as Arvind Iyer)

Writers: IYER (as Arvind Iyer), Pooja Ladha Surti

Producers:
Namgyal Lhamo – Executive Producer
Rajesh Mehta – Producer
Alexia Melocchi – Co-Executive Producer
Ram Krishna Pokharel – Line Producer (as Ramkrishna Pokharel)

Cinematography: Ting Song, Trevor Tweeten – Director of Photography
Editing: Harshal Thakur
Music / Score: Tim Beale, Namgyal Lhamo, Arnav Srivastava

Production Design & Art:
Namgyal Lhamo – Costume Design
Francisca Saavedra – Makeup Artist
Wendy Stolyarov – Illustrations

Sound Department:
Tim Beale – Sound
IYER – Supervising Sound Editor
Thomas Kurian – Boom Operator / Sound Recordist
Prashant Nayar – Sound Editor
Nicholas Williams – Sound Recordist

Visual Effects:
Srinivas Mamidi – Digital Intermediate Colorist
Vijesh Rajan – Animation Effects / Title Sequence Designer / Animator
Balakrishna P. Subaiah – Visual Effects Artist

Camera / Electrical Department:
Babu Shrestha – Assistant Camera
Bhim Thapa – Assistant Camera

Animation Department:
Chintan Shah – Animator
Tom Erik Douglas Smith – Animator

Editorial Department:
Srinivas Mamidi – Digital Intermediate Colorist
Sreeram Ramanathan – Additional Editor / On-line Editor

Music Department:
Sarosh Izedyar – Musical Director
George Joseph – Music Producer
Namgyal Lhamo – Playback Singer
Andrew Rayel – Composer: Additional Music
Hitesh Rupani – Composer: Additional Music

Additional Crew:
Sreeram Ramanathan – Story Editor
Swapnil Rane – Publicity Designer
Jehangir Surti – Creative Consultant
Kim Taylor – Researcher

Special Thanks:
The Dalai Lama
Jehangir Surti
Kelsang Chukie Tethong
Ai Weiwei
Tsering Woeser

Cast / Main Characters

Chris Constantinou – Jack Cassady
Namgyal Lhamo – Yiga Gyalnang
Robert Lin – Chinese Police Officer
Joseph Rezwin – Foreign Intelligence Officer

Synopsis

The Nightingale of Tibet portrays the life and struggle of a legendary singer, highlighting her courage, artistry, and resilience. The film is a musical and cultural journey that intertwines personal triumphs with the socio-political challenges she faced, celebrating her voice and legacy on a global scale.

Themes and Style

• Biographical and inspirational storytelling
• Celebration of courage, artistry, and cultural heritage
• Musical performances integrated into narrative
• Strong emphasis on visual aesthetics and authentic Tibetan settings
• Cross-cultural and historical perspective

Director’s Vision

“This film is a tribute to one of the most courageous voices of our time, exploring how art, identity, and resilience can inspire generations.”
— IYER

Key Takeaways

Genre: Feature Film / Biographical Drama / Musical
Best For: Festival audiences, world cinema lovers, music and culture enthusiasts
Why Watch: A moving, visually rich exploration of a remarkable life, highlighting music, heritage, and personal courage.