Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Rita Tushingham | ... | Jenny | |
Michael York | ... | Tom Pickle | |
Utpal Dutt | ... | Ustal Zafar Khan | |
Madhur Jaffrey | ... | Begum Sahiba | |
Barry Foster | ... | Chris | |
Aparna Sen | ... | Ghazala | |
Zohra Sehgal | ... | Mastani (as Zohra Segal) | |
Saeed Jaffrey | ... | Murad | |
Nana Palsikar | ... | The Guru's Guru | |
Nadira | ... | Courtesan | |
Leela Naidu | ... | Girl at the Party | |
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Usha Katrah | ... | Lady Reporter |
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Fred Ohringer | ... | Howard |
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Nargis Cowalsji | ... | Society Hostess |
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Marcus Murch | ... | Snide Guest |
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 ... Written by rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)
I saw this movie on late-night TV years ago; the music was gorgeous as was the photography..the interactions between the young British musician and his guru (teacher) were often amusing, but a scene in which the guru visits his own guru had a lot to say about the role of music in Indian culture and has stuck with me ever since. Of course, it was long ago and I want to see it again. It might be "so so 60's" but so what - it wasn't the 50's or 70's - it was the 60's! People really did dress that way and western young people did flock to India to see why the Beatles were so affected by it.
If you aren't familiar with Indian music, this might get you interested; if you're already a fan, it'll be a treat.