Guru
1997 · India
- Director
- Rajiv Anchal
- Music
- Ilaiyaraaja
- Cinematography
- S. Kumar
- Editing
- B. Lenin
Awards: · 1 nominations
Cast
What it is about
Raghuraman is the son of a temple priest in a village where Hindus and Muslims live together in harmony. After riots fueled by political interests and the death of his family, he joins an extremist group driven by a desire for revenge. A visit to an ashram and a meditation experience take him to a world whose inhabitants are blind and regard sight as a lie.
How it was made
Director Rajiv Anchal cites H. G. Wells's short story The Country of the Blind, which he first read during his college years, as an influence. The film, connected to the teachings of spiritual leader Karunakara Guru, was largely funded by disciples of the Santhigiri Ashram. Shooting took place at an abandoned magnesite mine near Yercaud in Tamil Nadu. Ilaiyaraaja's score was recorded with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, something unusual for Indian cinema at the time.
Reception and legacy
The film was selected as India's official entry for the Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category, though it did not receive a nomination. It was also the first Malayalam-language film the country submitted to that category. At the Kerala state and critics' awards it earned technical honors, and Mohanlal and Rajiv Anchal were recognized at the Screen Awards.
Trivia
Inexpensive sets
According to art director Muthuraj, total expenses were 24 lakh rupees, and a scene involving a miniature hill cost just 350 rupees.
Score recorded in Hungary
The original songs and background score were recorded entirely outside India, performed by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra.
Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.