The Guru (2003)
It's hard to deny the charm of "The
Guru." It's just a delightful and cute movie. And
if it follows the traditions of American cinema far
more closely than those of "Bollywood," that's only
because this is about a Hindi in America who believes
in the American cinema far more than the films of
his native land. Sure the plot is full of contrivances
and impossible to believe, but who cares. It's all
in good fun.
Jimi Mistry, a British born Indian
who starred on BBC-TV's popular soap "Eastenders"
for two years, is simply charming. His graciousness
coupled with a killer smile and a darling demeanor
immediately enchants us. It's easy to fall into the
groove of the film and go along with its interesting
premise especially with Mistry in the mix. When the
talk and plot of the film gets a bit racy, it's even
more surprising and delightful.
Gelled out of the traditional Hollywood
mold, the plot centers on a young immigrant named
Ramu, played by Mistry, who comes to America with
dreams of being a movie star. Along the way he falls
in love with a girl, who loves another, and lies to
her to help his career. He feels bad about it but
can't find a way to be honest with her. When she finds
out about the ruse and is angry with him, is there
any doubt that she will forgive him and true love
will prevail? None.
Pulling from traditional Bollywood
films is a few musical numbers that never really help
the film. When a clip from a Bollywood musical is
included in the beginning of the film, followed by
a clip from "Grease," we glean the connection between
the genres. These two films influence the film's only
truly Bollywood musical number, which emulates the
original clips. Oddly, the Spanish dance song "The
Macerena" inspires the only other dance number in
the film.
Daisy Von Scherler Mayer ("Woo,"
"Madeline") does an adequate job of direction even
if she allows the script to lead her wherever it may
roam. That script, by Tracey Jackson, may require
us to suspend disbelief far heavier than the Golden
Gate Bridge, but it's the authors debut feature and
she's allowed to be derisive. Mainly, her Hollywood
devices are more homage fitting into the mold of the
film's plot than supposed neophyte skills.
I still believe that Bollywood films
are on the edge of becoming truly popular in America.
These colorful, vibrant, lively, often dramatic and
comedic musicals (almost always over 2 hours long)
have a little something for everyone. In a world where
we are always searching for that next new thing (and
leaving behind faded interests like used Kleenex),
Bollywood seems poised as a valid genre for American
cinephiles to become enamoured with. That's why I
wish Von Scherler Mayer had paid a bit more attention
to the Bollywood standards here and included a few
more musical numbers in the Indian tradition. (At
least there wasn't a nagging stereotypical mother
character trying to get her son married). Still, she's
making an American film here, so p erhaps her glossing
over the Bollywood influences here can be somewhat
forgiven.
"The Guru" is surprisingly funny
and fun to watch. It would fit nice on a double bill
with "Bollywood/Hollywood" as a film that is more
inspired by the latter.
Notes:
Also with Heather Graham, Marisa
Tomei, Dash Mihok, Michael McKean, Anita Gillette,
and Christine Barasnski. Sally Jesse Raphael has a
cameo as herself.
Dwight Ewell appears as transvestite
Peaches and the film has a few gay-friendly moments.
The film "Grease" is referenced
several times.
The film was known as "The Guru
of Sex" during production and was released in France
as "Gourou et les femmes."
Viewed in Austin in March 2003.
