Watch Kumare

In the 2011 documentary film Kumare, filmmaker Vikram Gandhi sets out to explore the nature of religious faith and spiritual seeking by posing as a guru in Arizona. Adopting the persona of a spiritually wise Indian guru named Kumare, Gandhi gains a following of devoted followers who believe that he possesses secret knowledge and divine insights. But as the film progresses, Gandhi's deception becomes more complex, and he begins to question his own motives and the ethics of his experiment.

The film is structured around Gandhi's interactions with his followers, who range from deeply skeptical to intensely loyal. Some followers attend Kumare's teachings simply out of curiosity, while others come seeking guidance in their personal lives. Gandhi himself is engaging and charismatic, embodying the calm and serene demeanor of a spiritual master. Through his interactions with his followers, he poses questions about the nature of faith, the role of spiritual teachers, and the ways in which people find meaning in their lives.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Kumare is the way that Gandhi navigates the complex ethical terrain of posing as a guru. He becomes close with several of his followers, some of whom rely on him for emotional support and guidance. At the same time, he is acutely aware of the fact that he is lying to them, and he struggles with the tension between the personal connections he has formed and the larger social experiment he is conducting.

Throughout the film, Gandhi is also grappling with his own spiritual and philosophical questions. As he goes deeper into the Kumare persona, he begins to question the validity of his own beliefs and experiences. He becomes interested in the work of psychologist Carl Jung, and starts to explore the role of the subconscious mind in creating spiritual experiences. In one particularly memorable scene, he takes his followers on a "vision quest," encouraging them to meditate and visualize their ideal lives, even as he questions the validity of the exercise.

Ultimately, Kumare is a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of belief and the power of deception. By posing as a guru, Gandhi is able to reveal the ways in which people often project their desires and anxieties onto spiritual authorities, but he also becomes entangled in his own web of lies and personal connections. The film is a must-see for anyone interested in the nature of faith, the role of spiritual teachers, or the ethics of social experimentation.

Kumare is a 2011 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 60.