Director: Vikram Gandhi
Country: U.S.A
Year: 2013
In the half-documentary, half-social experiment Kumaré, now playing throughout March at the Tricycle Film Club, New Jersey-born filmmaker Vikram Gandhi poses as an Eastern guru and attracts a retinue of disciples in Arizona. Disturbed by the yoga and meditation craze in the US, Gandhi journeys to India to seek an authentic spiritual teacher, only to find the swamis there to be just as phony as those in America. Inspired to make a movie about fake teachers and those drawn to them, Vikram reinvents himself as the guru Kumaré, moving to Arizona and guest speaking at yoga studios around the state. Donning robes, walking barefoot, and spewing nonsense spiritual platitudes in a fake Indian accent, Kumaré lures in a number of devoted disciples almost immediately. It soon dawns on him, however, that he’s bitten off more than he can chew. In the end, he must face his followers—to whom he is sympathetic—and reveal his true identity, potentially hurting those who have placed in him their complete trust and faith.
Throughout the month, director and star Vikram Gandhi will be available to answer any questions you have about the film. Post your questions and comments below, and he will get back to you soon.