Private Project

I take refuge (Saranam Gacchami)

A story of cultural preservation unfolds through the life of a visionary Tibetan monk—a refugee driven by a dream. Born in the foothills of Mt. Everest in Nepal, he traveled to California with only his ideas. He established the Bay Area's largest Tibetan Monastery to safeguard their endangered heritage.

At 12, Pasang embraced a monastic life and was bestowed with a new name, Thupten Donyo, signifying 'Buddha's teachings' and 'meaningful.' Reflecting on his childhood and the inspiration that propelled his exceptional journey, Donyo shares, 'If my name means 'meaningful,' I should be a person of meaning.' Born in the Himalayan foothills and raised as a Tibetan refugee, he bore witness to the struggles of his community, igniting a deep-seated desire to make a difference beyond his spiritual path, a commitment that would shape his life's work in cultural preservation.

In 1988, Donyo had the opportunity to travel to the United States with a group of fellow monks invited by the Grateful Dead, who were fascinated by the monks' unique chanting sound. This trip and subsequent travels exposed him to the growing Tibetan refugee community in the United States, particularly in East Bay cities. He recognized the need for a haven and cultural hub for his fellow Tibetans, so Donyo founded the Gyuto Monastery. Over the years, the monastery has become the largest Tibetan monastery in the Bay Area, serving as a second home for many Tibetans and nurturing their collective heritage.

  • Priyanka Suryaneni
    Director
  • Priyanka Suryaneni
    Producer
  • Priyanka Suryaneni
    Cinematography
  • Erika Staud
    Cinematography
  • Pranita Pandurangi
    Original Music
  • Kabeer SIgh
    Original Music
  • Prakshi Mallik
    Editor
  • Hena Ashraf
    Editor
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Saranam Gacchami
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    verite
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Tibetan
  • Shooting Format:
    Full HD
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • East Bay Premiere
    RIchmond
    United States
    May 12, 2024
    Community Screening
Director Biography - Priyanka Suryaneni

Priyanka Suryaneni is a writer, documentarian, and social justice reporter deeply committed to shedding light on under-covered issues. Drawing inspiration from her roots and immigrant experiences, she focuses on telling South Asian diaspora-related stories. Her current body of work reflects over fifteen years of filmmaking expertise and a strong dedication to addressing social justice concerns. Priyanka excels in crafting character-driven, verité-style, and experimental documentaries.

Her journey in visual storytelling began as an assistant director in Bollywood, India, working with the renowned production house Yash Raj Films. Subsequently, she established her own production company, Pensar Creations, and has built an extensive portfolio encompassing television shows, short fiction narratives, documentaries, corporate videos, and advertisements. Her work has been showcased on well-regarded networks, including TV 9, NDTV, Sun Network, and Travel Trendz TV. Additionally, she produced corporate and advertising films for esteemed Indian brands such as Radio Mirchi, IDEA Cellular, Gati, Deeksha, and Natco Pharma.

As a Bay Area resident, Priyanka now works as a freelance professional. She also creates short and micro-documentaries for her YouTube channel, "Shift Focus Narratives," shedding light on critical social justice issues and amplifying the voices of local artists, grassroots movements, and underrepresented communities. Additionally, she is actively engaged in independent documentary projects that highlight the South Asian experience in the Bay Area. Her work is supported by organizations like the Asian American Documentary Network, the For Us By Us Film Incubator program, Filmmakers Collaborative, and Represent Media. She was a USC graduate fellow in 2019, a participant in the 2021 NY Times Student Journalist Institute, and an LA Press Fellow in 2021.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This project holds a deep personal significance for me. As a recent immigrant to the Bay Area from India, I arrived just before the pandemic, concurrently embarking on my exploration of Buddhism. During a challenging acclimatization to a new country amid the pandemic's upheaval, I found solace in the Gyuto Monastery. It provided a sense of belonging and home I needed during that time.

Being an Indian, I've observed how Indian narratives, especially in the Western media, often overshadow those of other South Asian communities. My work as a documentarian has consistently revolved around telling the stories of underrepresented groups. Thus, I felt compelled to undertake a project to shed light on the Gyuto Monastery's beauty and significance.

When I met Thupten Donyo and heard his inspirational story, I discovered the lens through which I wanted to approach this documentary. My camera became a constant companion during my frequent trips to Gyuto, allowing me to capture candid moments and document the journey of this remarkable Monastery, resulting in a verite-style film. For over a year, I've filmed Donyo on various occasions (a cumulative 22 shoot days) and completed my principal photography. Currently, we are in the post-production phase and expect to complete the project by the end of 2023