Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator, a documentary by Australian filmmaker Eva Orner is a slow burning expose of an man infamous yogi who was also a great illusionist, who rose from Calcutta as spiritual guru, and popularized Hot Yoga; a succession of 26 poses that push the body to physical extremity, in the United State of America.
Director Academy award winner Eva Orner builds the myth of Bikram Choudhary in the first half hour of the documentary. She dissects the rise and rise of Choudhary Asnd then, steadily, with every progressive revelation, strips his image as the self-titled, “Most spiritual man in the world” to the predator fraud who leeched money from people, and sexually assaulted multiple women in the guise of his pious persona.
The first part of the 90 minute documentary shows us the mask that Bikram wore for the public. He was charismatic, and narcissistic. He sauntered around the overheated hall in a black speedo, and screeched at the students, pushing them to extreme positions until they felt closer to death than to healing. Outside of his profession, Bikram confessed to being an “American Yogi”, meaning he didn’t give up material wealth in his pursuit for gGod. He had no shame in showing off his vanity. He rode in classic hatchbacks and wore gaudy suits. In many ways, he was god to the people who came to his sessions and suffered through the various verbal insults he flung their way. To an overweight devotee, he taunted, “Suck that fucking stomach in, I don’t like to see jiggle jaggle.” This sections helps the viewer understand how Bikram lured his students by partly giving them a lesson in tough love, and freeing them from their bodily constraints.
Orner’s direction is direct and bare; inter-cutting interviews with various clips of the yoga grueling Yoga sessions. The narration is simple but influential in setting up the power play. The documentary isn’t an exploration of Bikram’s crimes; it works better if the viewer wants to know about his crimes and the lies with which he built his empire. Once Orner has established Bikram as a cross between a drill sergeant and a spiritual guru, the documentary goes into a darker territory. Bikram’s unusual closeness to women, his habit of watching Bollywood movies late at night and inviting girls to join him disclose a deviancy from the hardened discipline of his profession.
And then come enter the sexual abuse allegations…
Orner never sensationalizes the accounts of the survivors. She shows their naivety in the beginning, and the slow, terrifying realization that the man whom they thought was their savior, turned out to be a merciless predator.
Sarah Baughn, a devotee who’d started the sessions with a wide eyed curiosity, accused Bikram of sexual assault. Larissa Anderson recalls her shocking rape and the helplessness she felt because of the threat a victim faces from the devout students who still regard Bikram as the almighty. Sarah broke the dam of silence by filing a suit against Bikram in 2013. Her actions were received with scorn by the community, and victim blaming ensued. Bikram fled America in 2016, after being dragged to court by his former employee Micki-Jafa Bodden. Eva Orner never sensationalizes the accounts of the survivors. She shows their naivety in the beginning, and the slow, terrifying realization that the man whom they thought was their savior, turned out to be a merciless predator.
The power play is obvious in this case as in all sexual harassment cases; in the documentary it’s even more obvious in his mannerism, and in the testimonies given by people who still believe in him. At the disposition, Bikram acted tactlessly; humiliating the judge, and expressing his sexist remarks without any fear of judgement. Bikram portrayed himself as being bankrupt to in front of the court, but there was proof of his wife riding a Bentley, and children taking selfies alongside their rodeo Ferraris and thanking him for “gifts”. Disconnected with the reality of his situation, Bikram behaved erratically during the trial, causing the jury to laugh at him. A research into Bikram’s past, going back to his home state, Calcutta, is revealed to be show reel of fabrications that presented him as the originator of the 26 plus Yoga. In truth, it was devised by his master, Bishnu Ghosh. The original booklet, depicting the 26 poses, has now been published and can be accessed easily.
And even though Bikram’s power of persuasion has faded, people are still finding cures and ways to heal themselves with the help of the technique. In the era of #MeToo there isn’t still a fall from grace as Bikram Choudhary and there he is still opening studios, teaching yoga to young women and kicking an India wide tour in January!