An historical epic is to be filmed about the life and teachings of the Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, a South Asian production team said Monday.
"The message of the movie gives answers to global crises of conflict and environmental problems," Navin Gooneratne, the chairman of the Light of Asia Foundation, told reporters.
The film, "The Buddha", is a venture between the foundation, which is based in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, and India's Beyond Dreams Entertainment. Veteran Indian director Shyam Benegal will direct the movie.
Gooneratne did not disclose the budget for the production, which will be shot both in India and Sri Lanka, a majority Buddhist nation, ahead of a scheduled release in mid-2009.

COPYRIGHT AFP (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE), 2007