Veteran Indian film and television director Shyam Benegal (left) will direct an epic film about the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama.

No mere entertainment trifle, “the message of the movie gives answers to global crises of conflict and environmental problems,” said Navin Gooneratne, chairman of the Light of Asia Foundation, the organization behind the film. Renowned Buddhist scholar Nimal D’Silva heads the research team, and a massive set will be built to evoke the 6^th Century in what is now Nepal. 

Benegal originated what has come to be known as “middle cinema.” And Buddha called his path to enlightenment The Middle Way. Sounds like a good match. 

There have been dozens of Buddha-themed films over the years; 1993 was especially Buddha-licious, when Naveen Andrews (Lost) starred in The Buddha of Suburbia and Keanu Reeves played Siddhartha in Little Buddha. This latest, which will be shot in India and Sri Lanka and released in 2009, is called simply The Buddha.