Thinle Lhondup (1943/44 – 2016) was a Nepalese actor from Dolpa, best known for his role as Tinle in the Oscar-nominated film Himalaya (1999). He also appeared in Nepali music videos, including Sa Karnali by Nepathya. Lhondup passed away in Dolpa after a fall while riding a horse.
A Star from the Mountains
Born in the remote highlands of Dolpa around 1943/44, Thinle Lhondup lived most of his life far from the spotlight. Yet, he became one of Nepal’s most iconic cinematic figures — a man who brought the spirit of the Himalayas to the world stage.
of Himalaya
Thinle’s life changed in 1999 when he was cast as the lead in Himalaya (Caravan) — a film by French director Éric Valli. In it, he portrayed Tinle, an aging salt caravan leader facing the challenges of generational conflict and tradition. His raw, natural performance was both powerful and poetic, earning Himalaya an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film — a first for Nepal.
The film, shot entirely in Dolpa, gave global audiences a rare and intimate look at life in Nepal’s high Himalayas. Through Thinle’s performance, the world witnessed the resilience, wisdom, and dignity of a vanishing way of life.
Beyond the Film
Thinle continued to appear in visual media, most notably in Nepathya’s iconic music video “Sa Karnali.” With his white beard and piercing eyes, he became a symbol of Nepal’s rugged, spiritual landscape — a face everyone recognized, yet few truly knew.
Legacy and Influence
Thinle Lhondup was more than an actor — he was a storyteller of his land. His portrayal of real, grounded characters revolutionized how Nepali stories were told on screen. Without any formal acting background, he showed that truth and soul could shine brighter than any script or studio. He inspired countless artists, filmmakers, and youth — especially from remote communities — to believe that their voices matter. That their stories are powerful.
A Humble End
In 2016, Thinle passed away in Dolpa after falling from a horse. It was a quiet end in the land he loved most among the mountains, trails, and skies that shaped his story. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinle_Lhondup
A Tribute from Dolpa
Thinle Lhondup may be gone, but his legacy lives on. In every frame of Himalaya, in every echo of “Sa Karnali,” and in every Dolpali who dares to dream. Let us remember him not just as a film actor but as a keeper of culture, a face of the mountains, and a voice that still speaks.
🇳🇵 नेपाली संस्करण: थिन्ले ल्होन्डुप – हिमालको अनुहार
डोल्पाबाट उदाएका पात्र
सन् १९४३/४४ तिर डोल्पाको उच्च हिमाली भेगमा जन्मिएका थिन्ले ल्होन्डुप जीवनभरि कैमराबाट टाढा थिए। तर, उनले नेपालकै सबैभन्दा चिनिएका सिनेमाका पात्र बनेर विश्वमाझ डोल्पाको आत्मा पुर्याए।
हिमालय चलचित्रको टिन्ले
१९९९ मा फ्रेन्च निर्देशक एरिक भ्याली को चलचित्र हिमालय (काराभान) मा मुख्य पात्रको रूपमा थिन्लेले टिन्लेको भूमिका निभाए — एक अनुभवी नुन व्यापारी जसले परम्परा र नयाँ पुस्ताबीचको द्वन्द्व झेलिरहेको हुन्छ। उनको स्वाभाविक अभिनयले फिल्मलाई जीवन्त बनायो। यही अभिनयले हिमालय लाई ओस्कारको सर्वश्रेष्ठ विदेशी फिल्मको मनोनयनमा पुर्यायो नेपालको लागि पहिलोपटक। चलचित्र डोल्पामै खिचिएको थियो र यसले संसारलाई उच्च हिमाली जीवनशैलीको दुर्लभ झलक देखायो। थिन्लेको अभिनयमार्फत, संसारले त्यस्तो जीवन देख्यो जुन कठोर थियो, तर गरिमा र बुद्धिले भरिएको।
संगीत र परे पनि
थिन्लेले नेपथ्यको ‘सा कर्णाली’ भिडियोमा पनि अभिनय गरे। उनको सेतो दाह्री, गम्भीर अनुहार र मौन आत्माले उनलाई हिमाली संस्कृतिको प्रतीक बनायो।
थिन्लेको प्रभाव
थिन्ले केवल अभिनेता थिएनन् — उनी आफैंमा संस्कृतिका कथावाचक थिए। उनले कसरी गाउँ, भूगोल र जीवनशैलीलाई पर्दामा वास्तविक रूपमा उतार्न सकिन्छ भन्ने देखाए। उनको अभिनय स्क्रिप्टभन्दा गहिरो थियो मनबाट निस्किएको सत्य। उनले ग्रामीण समुदायका धेरै युवालाई आफैँलाई देख्न सिकाए: “हामीका कथा पनि सुन्न लायक छन्।”
अन्त्य र सम्झना
सन् २०१६ मा डोल्पामै घोडाबाट लडेर थिन्लेको निधन भयो। त्यो भूगोलमा, जुन उनले संसारलाई देखाएका थिए।
शान्त, तर गर्विलो अन्त्य।
हाम्रो श्रद्धाञ्जली
थिन्ले ल्होन्डुप आज हामीसँग छैनन्, तर उनको कथा अझै बाँकी छ। हिमालय को प्रत्येक दृश्यमा, “सा कर्णाली” को प्रत्येक सुरमा, र प्रत्येक डोल्पाली युवाको आत्मामा।
हामी उनलाई सम्झन्छौँ — एक पात्र मात्र होइन, एक पहिचानको रूपमा।