A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The documentary explores the philosophies, beliefs and traditions of the Hindus who gather for the Kumbh Mela. There are multiple interviews with Hindus of different backgrounds. These Hindus share their perspective on this great gathering and its significance to them. Throughout the documentary, the camera focuses on various people so that we can get a sense of their beliefs and cultural values. There are clear distinctions between the way that different people view the celebration and this allows the audience to form unbiased opinion of the Kumbh Mela.The filming for the documentary is on location which lends to its authenticity and allows the audience to really see Indian culture. The cinematographic decisions allow the audience to easily follow along but also to feel like they are also experiencing this pilgrimage.As a Hindu, watching this film gave me more perspective on my religion. I feel like I was exposed to a part of my religion which is not necessarily less mainstream but still different from what I'm used to. It helped me to understand just how important Hinduism is to many Indians. I also realized the shortcomings in the strength of my own faith as I realized that I probably couldn't take a dip in the Ganges like those British pilgrims in the documentary. However, I also realized that faith manifests itself in different forms and plays different roles in each person's life/lives.