Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- sincere
- date night
- lighthearted group viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the film sweet and entertaining in its Bollywood-Hollywood crossover, but conventional, uneven, and thinly written.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ramu arrives from Delhi expecting Manhattan glamour and repeatedly navigates American entertainment, sexuality, and social expectations through misunderstanding.
Ramu impersonates a swami and builds a sex-guru career despite lacking religious credentials or genuine expertise.
Ramu's dream of western musicals and his dancing background shape a film that mixes Bollywood performance conventions with American romantic comedy.
Sharonna's private advice powers Ramu's public persona while her hidden pornography career complicates her engagement and romance with him.
Films like The Guru, and why
The Party
cross cultural fish out of water comedy built around cultural misunderstandings and broad social satire
Bride and Prejudice
romantic comedy combining immigrant identity, show business ambition, and an exuberant Bollywood influenced sensibility
The Tao of Steve
witty romantic comedy about unconventional sexual advice, emotional honesty, and mismatched expectations
Movie Details
- Director
- Daisy von Scherler Mayer
- Release Date
- 2002-08-21
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 5.3 / 10 (256)
Cast
- Jimi Mistry
- Heather Graham
- Marisa Tomei
- Michael McKean
- Dash Mihok
- Emil Marwa
- Christine Baranski
- Ronald Guttman
- Bobby Cannavale
- Jason Harris
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Guru about?
- An aspiring Indian dancer reinvents himself as Manhattan’s unlikely sex guru while falling for the woman whose secrets make his success possible.
- What is The Guru like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Guru as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Guru violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Guru.
- What did critics think of The Guru?
- Critics generally found the film sweet and entertaining in its Bollywood-Hollywood crossover, but conventional, uneven, and thinly written.
- Which films are like The Guru?
- Films with a similar feel include The Party, Bride and Prejudice, and The Tao of Steve.
- How long is The Guru?
- The Guru runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Guru?
- In United States, The Guru is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
