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The Guru

  • 1969
  • G
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
170
YOUR RATING
The Guru (1969)
Britain's top pop artiste, Tom Pickle, travels to Bombay, India, circa 1960s to learn to play the sitar (musical instrument) from renowned maestro Ustad Zafar Khan. Tom is taken to Zafar's home, where he gets to meet his wife and several daughters, and the maestro himself. Zafar never has had a disciple as Tom, and is clearly disappointed with his lack of respect. Nevertheless, he asks him to travel to Banares with him. Also accompanying them is a young Caucasian woman named Jenny, who Zafar has taken a liking to, much to his wife's displeasure, and who is more respectful of him than Tom. In Banaras, they get to meet Zafar's aging Guru, and his mistress, Ghazala, who is expecting a child soon. Zafar hopes that it will be a son. Zafar's Guru is quite disappointed with him for having Tom and Jenny as his disciples. An over-awed and overwrought Jenny decides to take it easy - and it is then she witnesses the murder of a courtesan. Watch as events unfold in this peaceful town of Banaras that will change the lives and thought-processes of Zafar, Tom, and Jenny, forever.
Play trailer2:42
1 Video
13 Photos
Comedy

Tom Pickle, Britain's top pop artiste, travels to Bombay, India, in the 1960s to learn to play the sitar (musical instrument) from renowned maestro Ustad Zafar Khan. Tom is taken to Zafar's ... Read allTom Pickle, Britain's top pop artiste, travels to Bombay, India, in the 1960s to learn to play the sitar (musical instrument) from renowned maestro Ustad Zafar Khan. Tom is taken to Zafar's home, where he gets to meet his wife and several daughters, and the maestro himself.Tom Pickle, Britain's top pop artiste, travels to Bombay, India, in the 1960s to learn to play the sitar (musical instrument) from renowned maestro Ustad Zafar Khan. Tom is taken to Zafar's home, where he gets to meet his wife and several daughters, and the maestro himself.

  • Director
    • James Ivory
  • Writers
    • Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
    • James Ivory
  • Stars
    • Rita Tushingham
    • Michael York
    • Utpal Dutt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    170
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Ivory
    • Writers
      • Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
      • James Ivory
    • Stars
      • Rita Tushingham
      • Michael York
      • Utpal Dutt
    • 7User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    The Guru (1969) Trailer
    Trailer 2:42
    Watch The Guru (1969) Trailer

    Photos13

    The Guru (1969)
    Zohra Sehgal in The Guru (1969)
    Utpal Dutt in The Guru (1969)
    Barry Foster and Rita Tushingham in The Guru (1969)
    Michael York in The Guru (1969)
    Michael York and Utpal Dutt in The Guru (1969)
    The Guru (1969)
    Michael York, Utpal Dutt, and Rita Tushingham in The Guru (1969)
    Michael York and Utpal Dutt in The Guru (1969)
    Rita Tushingham in The Guru (1969)
    Michael York, Utpal Dutt, James Ivory, and Rita Tushingham in The Guru (1969)
    The Guru (1969)

    Top cast

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    Rita Tushingham
    Rita Tushingham
    • Jenny
    Michael York
    Michael York
    • Tom Pickle
    Utpal Dutt
    Utpal Dutt
    • Ustal Zafar Khan
    Madhur Jaffrey
    Madhur Jaffrey
    • Begum Sahiba
    Barry Foster
    Barry Foster
    • Chris
    Aparna Sen
    Aparna Sen
    • Ghazala
    Zohra Sehgal
    Zohra Sehgal
    • Mastani
    • (as Zohra Segal)
    Saeed Jaffrey
    Saeed Jaffrey
    • Murad
    Nana Palsikar
    Nana Palsikar
    • The Guru's Guru
    Nadira
    Nadira
    • Courtesan
    Leela Naidu
    Leela Naidu
    • Girl at the Party
    Usha Katrah
    • Lady Reporter
    Fred Ohringer
    • Howard
    Nargis Cowalsji
    • Society Hostess
    Marcus Murch
    • Snide Guest
    Dorothy Strelsin
    • Tourist
    Ismail Merchant
    Ismail Merchant
    • Master Of Ceremonies
    Rafi Ameer
    • Arnold D'Mello
    • Director
      • James Ivory
    • Writers
      • Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
      • James Ivory
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      One of eight productions that Indian actor Saeed Jaffrey made with Merchant Ivory Productions. The films include The Guru (1969), The Delhi Way (1964), Heat and Dust (1983), The Deceivers (1988), The Sword and the Flute (1959), The Courtesans of Bombay (1983), The Creation of Woman (1961), and Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures (1978).
    • Connections
      Featured in The Wandering Company (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Tom's Boat Song
      By Ustad Imrat Khan (as Ustad Imrat Hussein Khan), Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (as R. Prawer Jhabvala)
      Performed by Michael York (uncredited)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Interesting study of Western stereotypes of India, and vice versa
    Aside from the great Indian music in this film, and some noteworthy cinematography, I think the takeaway for me was the study in preconceptions held by the British and Indians about each other.

    British perception of Indians: stoic, wise, untouched by materialism. Reality: Indians can be as materialistic, petty and emotional as Westerners.

    Indian perception of the British: foolish, intriguing, wasteful, decadent. Reality: The main British character (Tom Pickle) is arguably the wisest character in the film.

    I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to learn about a moment in time when East and West began opening up to each other, and learning each others' strengths and weaknesses.
    helpful•12
    0
    • jazzerooni
    • Nov 13, 2005

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 10, 1969 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • India
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Merchant Ivory Productions (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El gurú
    • Filming locations
      • Benares, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Arcadia Films
      • Merchant Ivory Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1
      • 1.66 : 1
      • 1.85 : 1

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