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The film revisits the 1953 expedition in which Tenzing and Hillary became the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest.<\/p>\n
But the achievement was the culmination of years of climbing attempts for Tenzing, and it was followed by a long association with Darjeeling, where he became a key figure in India’s organised mountaineering movement.<\/p>\n
Tenzing had already been to Everest several times before the successful 1953 expedition.<\/p>\n According to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), he went to Everest six times before succeeding on his seventh attempt. He took part in the 1935, 1936 and 1938 Everest expeditions as a high-altitude porter and later joined the Swiss expeditions to Everest in 1952, reaching about 28,200 feet with Raymond Lambert.<\/p>\n In 1953, he joined the British expedition led by Colonel John Hunt. On May 29, 1953, Tenzing and Hillary reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain.<\/p>\n The achievement made Tenzing an international figure, but his association with the mountains continued in India.<\/p>\n Why Darjeeling became important to Tenzing<\/strong><\/p>\n After the Everest ascent, Tenzing made Darjeeling the centre of his life and work in India.<\/p>\n The HMI was established in Darjeeling in 1954, a year after the Everest ascent.<\/p>\n Tenzing became its Director of Field Training and remained closely associated with the institute for decades, according to HMI’s official history.<\/p>\n Tenzing held the post from June 1954 to May 1976. He was then appointed an adviser and remained associated with the institute until he died in 1986, according to HMI.<\/p>\n Tenzing and Jawaharlal Nehru<\/strong><\/p>\n Tenzing’s post-Everest life brought him into close contact with India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.<\/p>\n In March 1955, Tenzing sought Nehru’s advice on an invitation from American writer James R Ullman, who was writing his autobiography and had offered to take him to the US for illustrated talks, according to the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Second Series<\/em>.<\/p>\n Nehru advised him against undertaking an American tour, saying it could come in the way of the \u201csolid work\u201d of building the Himalayan Institute. \u201cIn this, we rely upon you,\u201d Nehru wrote.<\/p>\n The HMI’s official history says Nehru and then West Bengal Chief Minister Bidhan Chandra Roy planned the institute in Darjeeling after the Everest ascent. Tenzing became its Director of Field Training and remained associated with it for decades. Nehru later inaugurated the HMI building.<\/p>\n The exchange reflected the role Nehru saw for Tenzing after Everest: not merely as an international celebrity, but as a key figure in building India’s mountaineering programme.<\/p>\n Tenzing’s story on screen<\/strong><\/p>\n Tenzing<\/em> focuses on the years leading up to the Everest expedition and puts the climber himself at the centre of the story.<\/p>\n Apple describes the film as being based on true events and says it follows Tenzing as he seeks recognition as a mountaineer in his own right, rather than merely serving as part of a Western climbing expedition.<\/p>\n In the film, Tenzing’s wife Dawa, played by Thinley Lhamo, encourages him, while expedition secretary Jill Henderson, played by Caitr\u00edona Balfe, becomes an ally in persuading Hunt that Tenzing belongs on the British climbing team.<\/p>\n The film explores Tenzing’s relationship with Hillary. It also draws a distinction between how the Western climbers and Tenzing view Everest. Apple says the Western climbers see the mountain as something to be conquered, while Tenzing reveres Chomolungma as a sacred mother goddess.<\/p>\n When will Tenzing release?<\/strong><\/p>\n Tenzing <\/em>will have its European premiere when it opens the Zurich Film Festival on September 24.<\/p>\n The film is scheduled to release in select theatres on October 9, followed by its global streaming premiere on Apple TV on October 16, according to Apple.<\/p>\n Apple has not specified an India theatrical release in its current release information.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Who was Tenzing Norgay?<\/strong><\/p>\n