Overview
A tale of ambition and love set against the backdrop of a changing India, where dreams collide with harsh realities.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- sweeping
- idealistic
- energetic
- bollywood movie night
- inspirational drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Mani Ratnam’s entertaining Hindi business epic, especially Abhishek Bachchan’s commanding performance and the film’s energetic treatment of ambition and Indian capitalism.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Gurukant moves from failed employment and limited capital to becoming a powerful industrialist.
Gurukant’s central motive is to rise in his father’s eyes after disappointing him as a child.
The film presents an industrialist’s rise through Hindi musical-drama conventions and an expansive emotional scale.
Gurukant marries Sujata, the daughter of wealthy Jignesh, while prioritizing his ambitions and overlooking her troubled past.
Films like Guru, and why
The Social Network
biographical rise-to-power drama centered on ambition, capitalism, and a charismatic industrialist
Lagaan
epic rags-to-riches character study combining romance, entrepreneurial ambition, and social transformation
Swades
sweeping Indian period drama with idealism, family pressure, romance, and a protagonist challenging social constraints
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year
uplifting business-world drama about determination, ethical compromise, and the pursuit of success
Movie Details
- Director
- Mani Ratnam
- Release Date
- 2007-01-12
- Runtime
- 166 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (143)
Cast
- Abhishek Bachchan
- Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
- Mithun Chakraborty
- R. Madhavan
- Vidya Balan
- Arya Babbar
- Mallika Sherawat
- Prathap Pothan
- Sachin Khedekar
- Manoj Joshi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Guru about?
- An ambitious Indian entrepreneur transforms humble beginnings into industrial power while seeking the approval of his disappointed father and the loyalty of his complicated wife.
- What is Guru like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Guru as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Guru violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Guru.
- What did critics think of Guru?
- Critics broadly praised Mani Ratnam’s entertaining Hindi business epic, especially Abhishek Bachchan’s commanding performance and the film’s energetic treatment of ambition and Indian capitalism.
- Which films are like Guru?
- Films with a similar feel include The Social Network, Lagaan, Swades, and Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year.
- How long is Guru?
- Guru runs 166 minutes.
- Where can I watch Guru?
- In United States, Guru streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
