The Life of Buddha
釈迦の生涯
We checked 8 streaming services in India on 22 Jul 2026 at 21:08 IST
About
A re-edited, feature length compilation of the two parts of Ôfuji's The Great Sage Shakyamuni Buddha - the culmination of Noburô Ôfuji's monochrome silhouette films. After a portentous dream about a white elephant, the ancient Hindu princess Maya gives birth to a prince. Reared in seclusion from the troubles of the world, Prince Siddhartha is troubled by sights of poverty and deprivation when he is 12 years old. He is married to a beautiful wife, but he is unable to bear the thought of others suffering, and leaves the palace in search of an answer. While sitting beneath a tree, he achieves enlightenment. Planned as a nine-reel life of Buddha, but exhibited in Cannes as ‘Part One’ with only 6 reels completed, this late work by Noburô Ôfuji was not completed until after his death. It was only in 1961 that it was finally exhibited as a full 72-minute film (comprising 10 reels).
Cast
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Watch The Life of Buddha Online Free in HD
Looking for a place to watch The Life of Buddha online for free? You've landed on the right page. The Life of Buddha is a talked-about Japanese drama and animation movie from 1961 that you can stream right now on Bowood.TV in high quality, no signup required.
About The Life of Buddha
A re-edited, feature length compilation of the two parts of Ôfuji's The Great Sage Shakyamuni Buddha - the culmination of Noburô Ôfuji's monochrome silhouette films. After a portentous dream about a white elephant, the ancient Hindu princess Maya gives birth to a prince. Reared in seclusion from the troubles of the world, Prince Siddhartha is troubled by sights of poverty and deprivation when he is 12 years old. He is married to a beautiful wife, but he is unable to bear the thought of others suffering, and leaves the palace in search of an answer. While sitting beneath a tree, he achieves enlightenment. Planned as a nine-reel life of Buddha, but exhibited in Cannes as ‘Part One’ with only 6 reels completed, this late work by Noburô Ôfuji was not completed until after his death. It was only in 1961 that it was finally exhibited as a full 72-minute film (comprising 10 reels). Running 72 minutes.
The Life of Buddha Cast and Characters
The cast features Shintarō Katsu. Their performances are a major reason The Life of Buddha has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch The Life of Buddha Online
Bowood.TV lets you stream The Life of Buddha online free, instantly, in HD. There's nothing to install — open the page, hit play, done. Works perfectly on Jio, Airtel, Vi networks across India and on slow mobile data thanks to our adaptive video pipeline.
▶ Watch The Life of Buddha NowWhy People Are Watching The Life of Buddha
The Life of Buddha flies under the radar but it deserves your attention. What makes it work is emotional weight that hits where it counts. If you enjoy Japanese storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of film you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Life of Buddha
Where can I watch The Life of Buddha online for free?
You can watch The Life of Buddha online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How long is The Life of Buddha?
The Life of Buddha runs for 72 minutes (about 1.2 hour).
Is The Life of Buddha good? What's the rating?
The Life of Buddha holds a 0.0/10 rating based on 0 reviews — a niche pick worth checking out.
Who is in the cast of The Life of Buddha?
The main cast includes Shintarō Katsu.
Is The Life of Buddha available in Japanese?
Yes — The Life of Buddha was originally produced in Japanese and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV. English subtitles are provided when available.
When was The Life of Buddha released?
The Life of Buddha was released in 1961.
Do I need an account to watch The Life of Buddha on Bowood.TV?
No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch The Life of Buddha without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about The Life of Buddha
Where can I watch The Life of Buddha for free?
You can watch The Life of Buddha (1961) online for free on Bowood.TV. Just click "Watch Free" on this page to start streaming instantly — no account, subscription, or downloads required.
What is The Life of Buddha about?
The Life of Buddha is a Drama/Animation film. A re-edited, feature length compilation of the two parts of Ôfuji's The Great Sage Shakyamuni Buddha - the culmination of Noburô Ôfuji's monochrome silhouette films. After a portentous dream about a white elephant, the ancient Hindu princess Maya gives birth to a prince. Reared in seclusion from the troubles of the world, Prince Siddhartha is troubled by sights of poverty and deprivation when he is 12 years old. He is married to a beautiful wife, but he is unable to bear the thought of others suffering, and leaves the palace in search of an answer. While sitting beneath a tree, he achieves enlightenment. Planned as a nine-reel life of Buddha, but exhibited in Cannes as ‘Part One’ with only 6 reels completed, this late work by Noburô Ôfuji was not completed until after his death. It was only in 1961 that it was finally exhibited as a full 72-minute film (comprising 10 reels).
When was The Life of Buddha released?
The Life of Buddha was released on January 2, 1961. It has a runtime of 1h 12m.
Who stars in The Life of Buddha?
The Life of Buddha stars Shintarō Katsu. The full cast list is available in the Cast section above.
Is The Life of Buddha available in HD?
Yes, The Life of Buddha is available to stream in high definition (HD) on Bowood.TV. Our players automatically deliver the best quality your connection supports — no extra setup needed.