I certainly seem to have a funny longstanding and tidal relationship with Hollywood. Last Friday, I went to watch the premiere of the new movie that I’m a small part of. It’s called 10,000 Saints and stars some of the biggest names in Hollywood right now – Ethan Hawke, Emile Hirsch, Hailee Steinfeld, Asa Butterfield. It also happens to star a bunch of the devotees from the Bhakti Center in New York – Doyal Gauranga, Chaitanya Kapadia, Vinay Vanodia, and a bunch of other handsome and beautiful devotees of Krishna. I play the illustrious role of, “Hare Krishna priest” and I get to live out one of my long-time dreams of chanting mantras about Krishna in a Hollywood film. I chose to sing the prayers of Lord Brahma (also called the Brahma Samhita) where he describes the supreme beauty and attractiveness of Govinda and his spiritual world. Seems a fitting offering to an industry so captivated by beauty and love. At the end of each stanza Emile Hirsch and Hailee Steinfeld toss handfuls of grains into the fire and sing “Swaha” as they pretend to get married at the temple.
I don’t want to spoil the movie for anyone who plans to see it, so I’ll just say the basics. It centers around a young man and his Journey to find himself in the 1980s straight edge hard-core scene in New York City. There’s a lot of graphic drug use (especially in the beginning of the film) sexual overtones, and spicy language so I wouldn’t enthusiastically recommend my gentle hearted, sattvic, spiritual friends should all go see the film. But if you’re one of those bhaktas who enjoys binge watching lowbrow, high-entertainment shows like Game of Thrones after you finish your 16 rounds, then by all means feel free. It’s definitely enjoyable to see the Bhakti Center and the beautiful atmosphere of flower garlands, colorful saris and ecstatic Kirtan captured for posterity in this independent film. When I went to the DC premiere of this movie Eleanor Henderson, the author of the book the film is based on, told me the scenes at the temple are her favorite scenes in the film.
And be careful not to blink or you might miss the future nominee for the Oscar for “Best Turban Worn By An Actor Portraying a Hare Krishna Priest in a Film About the Hard-core Punk Rock Scene in 1980s New York.”
ॐ
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Gaura Vani
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