Word: guru
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...Guru's hero, played by Abhishek, is named Gurukant Desai, and Ratnam has insisted that any similarities are coincidental: "The film is purely fictional and could be based on anyone's life." Sure, and Citizen Kane wasn't inspired by the life of William Randolph Hearst. Guru's plot frequently references Dhirubhai's life story. And unlike Kane, this movie dispenses with the muckraking for hagiography. The Ambani estate is protective of its founder's legacy, but at least two members of the family gave their blessing to Guru's stars: Dhirubahi's son Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Capital...
...Mani Ratnam, who is internationally the most revered writer-director of Indian films, said a few words. Composer A R Rahman, whose hundred or so film scores have made him arguably the world's all-time top-selling recording artist, appeared but remained silent. The house lights dimmed and Guru began...
...premiere such as this would typically take place in Mumbai (Bombay) or in Ratnam's home town Chennai (Madras). But Bollywood films have eyes to be as popular in America as in India, Indonesia, the Middle East and North Africa, where they dominate cinematic culture. So the principals of Guru had come 7,800 miles to the Empire 25 theater just off Times Square in New York City to flack their film this weekend. (They'd been in Toronto the evening before.) Then Abhishek and Ash flew back to India, where, in a flourish that Brad and Angelina might take...
...Guru is another fictionalized bio-pic, this time taking inspiration from the career of Indian business executive Dhirajlal Ambani. Known as Dhirubhai, Ambani rose from rural nobody to towering tycoon without the usual benefits of family wealth, education or connection. He was the founder and chairman of Reliance Industries, manufacturer of the polyester that clothed India (and in the 70s lent its kitchy style to tight-pantsed Bollywood actors like Amitabh). By Dhirubhai's death in 2002, Reliance was India's largest corporation, a leader in petrochemicals and a dozen other interests and the largest corporation. A Times of India...
...than rhythm and getting whiplashed by her pigtail. Much more satisfying is an early turn in an Istanbul night club by Bollywood bombshell Mallika Sherawat. For her writhing, shimmying moment in the spotlight (she's out of the picture before the opening credits), Sherawat brings a visceral enlightenment to Guru in a dance number where she really gets to shake her bodhi...