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| The Guru [2002] | ![The Guru [2002]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5173H5P91AL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Daisy Mayer
Actors: Jimi Mistry, Heather Graham, Marisa Tomei, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Michael Mckean
Studio: 4 Front Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £19.98 (100%)
New (35) from £0.64
Avg. Customer Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 14369
Format: Pal
Languages: English (Original Language), Hindi (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Running Time: 91 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 3259190705593
ASIN: B00006AGH4
Theatrical Release Date: February 14, 2003
Release Date: April 7, 2003
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Offered with full money back guarantee. Shipped within 24 hours.
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Jimi Mistry hits the screens again in The Guru, but instead of East is East here we have east-meets-west, a combination of Hollywood's fish-out-of-water comedies with Bollywood Breaks. Based loosely on director Shekhar Kapur's experiences as a young man moving to Britain in order to meet "pretty blondes", Mistry plays Ramu Gupta, an Indian in love with Hollywood who teaches the Macarena in a local "Modern School of Dance". Dreaming of bigger and better things (mainly the desire to re-live Travolta's role in Grease) he shoots off to the USA, but finds the American Dream does not hold true when he lands the lead role as an "adult" actor in a Ramrod Production. By a bizarre twist of fate, Ramu ends up impersonating a Guru at the birthday party of Lexi (Marsa Tomei), where the only wise words he can find are those of his Porno costar Sharonna (Heather Graham, without the roller skates), about improving sexual performance. All this catapults him to stardom as "The Guru of Sex" and he is left begging Sharonna for more wisdom to offer the rich and lost in New York. The collaboration of Bollywood and Hollywood styles--including a fantastic Bollywood rendition of "You're the One That I Want"--should have resulted in an interesting and enlightening film about the struggles a young Indian faces to create an identity in America. Yet something is missing. It's clear this is Tracey Jackson's first major screenwriting venture. Humorous only in places, the script is not really substantial enough for the strong cast members to get their teeth into. The editing is also amiss, with the camera hovering on scenes for far too long, leaving a slightly uncomfortable feeling. However the music will stay with you for months and the ending is up there with the best rom-coms. --Nikki Disney
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 A REALLY FUNNY FILM August 19, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Unfortunately, not many people have heard about this quirky little comedy, which caught me up by surprise one winter day, way back in January 2003. For me, I fell in love with the film both for sentimental reasons as well as objective ones. The Guru is an innocent romantic comedy, a film that's totally aware of itself yet at the time extremely and naively charming. Better than that, it fills its viewers with pure energy and makes you want to dance, love and marry your partner - not particularly in that order.
The plot follows Ramu Guptha, an aspiring young Indian actor who moves to Manhattan, New York, in order to live out the American dream. Ramu, portrayed marvelously by British actor Jimmy Mistry, is filled with passion for music and dance, and dreams of becoming a professional actor. However, being an innocent stranger in New York doesn't always bid you well. An ironic misunderstanding brings Ramu to become an actor alright, but instead of mainstream entertainment he soon finds himself in the wrong industry - adult films. On the set of his first feature, he befriends Sharonna (Heather Graham), a local porn actress who's far too good to be working in the industry. Sharonna teaches Ramu how to relax in front of the camera and become whole with his sexuality, but he deploys that advice in a whole different angle, when he replaces an old Indian love guru at a party he attends. Shortly after, he becomes "Guru Ramu", starts dating a high society spiritual women (Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei), and finally achieves the fame and fortune he was so desperately seeking. Alas, Sharonna has no knowledge of the crucial part she's been playing in this successful career shift, and Ramu can't keep ignoring his overwhelming feelings towards her any longer...
It sounds rather serious, I know, but this whole plot is told in a very humorist manner. There's lots of Indian music (including the ever so captivating Chori Chori Gori Se), some wildly obvious grins towards the Bollywood industry, and tons of supposedly heavy social remarks, which are all served with a wide smile. This film speaks about everything, from racism to porn to homosexual relationships, and always with a good taste and a healthy approach towards the subject matter.
As for the sentimental objective point, I remember seeing this in theaters on the evening of my last day of obligatory military service. I was with a friend who served alongside me, and we both wandered through the shops of the Azrieli shopping mall in Tel Aviv. I was already in a good mood upon entering the theater, and seeing this lovely gem only made it better. The wacky ending made me so happy I couldn't stop smiling for weeks. If you have a chance, go rent this and discover the magic yourself as well...
ITS ONLY A BIT OF FUN August 9, 2007
If you have got nothing to do then this is worth a laugh, I really did enjoy it but I was not looking for anything other than a good chuckle. It is not a film to be taken seriously, it is typical of Bollywood style and flaunts it with absolute abandon. Everything is OTT including the acting so grab some snacks and settle down for a daft laugh.
 Pretty good, but not fantastic June 23, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Firstly, I have to say that Jimi Mistry was fab in this film. He is one of my favourite actors, and he saves ths film.
This is a romantic comedy, there was scope for this to be different, but at the end it went into cheese overdrive and became a stereotypical Hollywood lovefest.
The film touched on issues of racism and of relationship difficulties. The film could have been a great film, but instead it copped out and ended up like almost all other romantic comedies you see. That was a real shame, the phone-in where out of millions of potential callers, the romantic interest's fiance happens to get through seemed a bit desperate.
If the ending had been handled differently then I'd have given this a four. The actual ending was a valid one, but it was so predictable that it spoilt the film for me. It is amusing, and it is probably worth a watch, I won't be buying it on DVD though.
 Hilarious romantic comedy! March 20, 2007
Feel-good movie starring Jimi Mistry (the fit one from 'East Is East')
When I first saw this film, I don't think I was impressed - I'm now wondering why! I guess having seen Jimi as a 'serious' heartthrob in East Is East, perhaps I expected something similar in this, but here, his character is a bit of a 'bungler'. It's the second time I've seen it, and this time around (perhaps looking at it from a different perspective) thought it was hilarious! There's something in this for everyone, and some very comical 'crossed-wires'.
I suspect this was an intended 'vehicle' for Jimi Mistry in the U.S. after the success of 'East Is East' a couple of years before, but surprisingly seems to have done little else over there since. He still looks good in this, but some of the weird costumes worn by the character do not help his talents.
Enjoy this, but be prepared to see Jimi prancing about doing some outrageous dance routines minus his trousers!!
Great film, fresh, inventive, witty and subtle for those who can take that. September 11, 2006
Well, I think I said it in the title. Those who mark this down obviously want what's obvious and have no idea in the post Tarantino days what charm and wit is. A warm, film hilarious at times, wise and witty and a homespun warmth lost on those who want a slick package. More please!
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