I have friends who swear by hot yoga, and there are still centers in the US calling themselves Bikram yoga, so obviously Bikram is still making money from yoga. How did he get started and why did he become so popular? I see gurus like this even today displayed all day on TV in India and it is a constant debate between me and my mother about the authenticity of these people. When people have no hope in life, the desire to belong and feel wanted and a part of something is so strong that it overrules the mind. Bikram made his hot yoga a "thing" and his personality made people feel drawn to him because he stood out and was talked about by everyone everywhere. When I saw him on TV, I saw him as a disgusting man who pushed boundaries and in the process made a lot of money which went to his head, he thought he could do anything and demand anything. How did he get people to follow him? I found the documentary very insightful since I didn't know about the cases against him. Having said that, the quality itself is a bit lacking and not to the level of say Fyre Festival probably because as much information is not available about his personal life, which is probably why he got away with it all. It is still a very good watch.
44 Reviews
WTF subject matter - pretty good doc
zachmetzgers27 December 2019
The fact that anyone still attends this gross predator's yoga workshops is beyond me. Before even hearing the accusations against him, I found Bikram's demeanor and presence to be awkward and unsettling. With the accusations though...? I was interested enough in this documentary to see it through to the end, but I would have liked to have better understood why so many people were captivated by Bikram as a yoga instructor. No one could really explain that. Not someone I'd want to take a single yoga class with let alone be isolated with at teacher training. If you're interested in cults, this documentary will interest you, because essentially he's a cult leader.
I want to puke!
nomodusproject26 November 2019
Hail yoga, jail Yogi!
xpics23 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
At the outset let me confess that I have never heard of Bikram Chaudhary before (despite the fact that I am from India). My bad! Or is it good to not know a tainted personality like him. However that helped me have an objective look at this documentary and make my own inferences without being influenced or having pre-conceieved notions.
Having said that, this is a pretty predictable documentary and there is no shock factor by the end. It traverses the journey of Bikram Chaudhary from India to making it big in the US with his hot yoga lessons over the years. However the story is not about his success as an entrepreneur but rather his failure as a human being with charges of sexual misconduct by several female protege at his yoga school. While initially you feel the documentary is one-sided and only endorses the victim's story, you start buying the fact that Bikram is to be blamed with his seemingly guilt-ridden denials at court proceedings and subsequently with the fact that he fled US leaving behind a huge empire that he had created and never chose to respond to the court orders or clear his name.
Portions that have an interesting twist in the documentary is when Bikram's claim to have cured President Nixon or having invented his 26 postures of yoga or his claim to have won yoga championship three times in a row in India - all are proven wrong. This is a classic case of success going in a person's head driving him crazy to the extent that he feels he can do whatever he wants.
Though the storytelling is very simple without any complicated layers, the documentary is dramatized well and holds your attention to some extent, if you ignore intermittent moments where it dips with repeated information.
Thankfully the documentary gives yoga the respect it deserves though it certainly doesn't do the same with the yoga guru!
Having said that, this is a pretty predictable documentary and there is no shock factor by the end. It traverses the journey of Bikram Chaudhary from India to making it big in the US with his hot yoga lessons over the years. However the story is not about his success as an entrepreneur but rather his failure as a human being with charges of sexual misconduct by several female protege at his yoga school. While initially you feel the documentary is one-sided and only endorses the victim's story, you start buying the fact that Bikram is to be blamed with his seemingly guilt-ridden denials at court proceedings and subsequently with the fact that he fled US leaving behind a huge empire that he had created and never chose to respond to the court orders or clear his name.
Portions that have an interesting twist in the documentary is when Bikram's claim to have cured President Nixon or having invented his 26 postures of yoga or his claim to have won yoga championship three times in a row in India - all are proven wrong. This is a classic case of success going in a person's head driving him crazy to the extent that he feels he can do whatever he wants.
Though the storytelling is very simple without any complicated layers, the documentary is dramatized well and holds your attention to some extent, if you ignore intermittent moments where it dips with repeated information.
Thankfully the documentary gives yoga the respect it deserves though it certainly doesn't do the same with the yoga guru!
7
Edvis-199714 January 2021
What a nutcase!
Amyth4715 December 2019
My Rating : 7/10
The documentary is well-made and I thought the pacing and editing was engaging - a must-watch for anyone into Yoga, wellness industry culture and lover of documentaries in general.
The guy is honestly a nutcase and an absolute liar and charlatan who abused his power and position. Why would anyone listen to this kind of maniac?!
So strange!!
The documentary is well-made and I thought the pacing and editing was engaging - a must-watch for anyone into Yoga, wellness industry culture and lover of documentaries in general.
The guy is honestly a nutcase and an absolute liar and charlatan who abused his power and position. Why would anyone listen to this kind of maniac?!
So strange!!
This one will probably make you very angry.
planktonrules26 November 2019
"Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator" is an exceptionally well made and well constructed documentary. It's also one that, by the end, will probably also make you very angry for a variety of reasons.
The story is about Bikram Choudhury, a world famous yogi who built a huge financial business empire in the United States in the 1980s until nearly today. The first portion of the film essentially talks about Bikram's history and his style...and his followers talk about him glowingly. The second portion of the film then changes focus--to the sexual harassment and sexual abuse by Bikram. Additionally, his reaction to these allegations and lawsuits follows...and how he essentially got away with it will leave you angry and confused.
Overall, exceptionally well made and a film this is nearly perfect. My only complaints were a few of the interviews seemed ill-suited for the film, as they had no first hand knowledge of Bikram's horrible behaviors. Still, the documentary is compelling and well worth seeing.
The story is about Bikram Choudhury, a world famous yogi who built a huge financial business empire in the United States in the 1980s until nearly today. The first portion of the film essentially talks about Bikram's history and his style...and his followers talk about him glowingly. The second portion of the film then changes focus--to the sexual harassment and sexual abuse by Bikram. Additionally, his reaction to these allegations and lawsuits follows...and how he essentially got away with it will leave you angry and confused.
Overall, exceptionally well made and a film this is nearly perfect. My only complaints were a few of the interviews seemed ill-suited for the film, as they had no first hand knowledge of Bikram's horrible behaviors. Still, the documentary is compelling and well worth seeing.
Basic documentary Great story
Kethina2 January 2020
The documentary is told in a very simple way, using very basic techniques and clichéd ways of painting a picture. It made me think that this could have been done by a very unexperienced director or something. There is so much material of Bikram and his life but still someone thought it was important to be very literal in the way they told the story. For instance, if someone said "it all went dark", they would cut to a black screen to enforce it even more. Or if someone said I was driving down Rodeo dr. in my red car, they would show clips of someone doing exactly that. It's the overexplaining of the unimportant details that made me roll my eyes a couple of times.
However, the fact that this is a very interesting story makes it worthwhile. I had never heard about him before and would recommend people seeing this for the same reason I would recommend someone to watch documentaries about The church of Scientology for example.
However, the fact that this is a very interesting story makes it worthwhile. I had never heard about him before and would recommend people seeing this for the same reason I would recommend someone to watch documentaries about The church of Scientology for example.
Finally a doco exposing Bikram as the predator and criminal that he is
justapeachperth20 November 2019
I was waiting in anticipation for this documentary as someone who has been aware of the allegations made against Bikram for a few years now. As a yogi myself and someone who has been to Bikram yoga the documentary explores the benefits of his classes but also exposes the shady and disgusting and cult like way he made his empire. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of studios soon distance themselves from the Bikram brand and rebrand as simply "hot yoga". The documentary was impeccably put together and a must watch for any yogi
it's a surprise when an icon turns out to be a fraud
lee_eisenberg26 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I had been doing Bikram yoga for a few years when assault allegations against Bikram Choudhury surfaced. "Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator" looks at this, as well as allegations that his entire business franchise is a fraud. Shocking stuff. I recommend it.
A flawed documentary but fascinating to watch
Ruskington6 December 2019
While this isn't the most accomplished documentary, it sure is satisfying to see the repulsive fraud Bikram Chaudhury exposed to a wider audience. It disgusts me that this man has got away with his behaviour as long as he has, and its painful to watch these gullible morons continue to throw money at him even after these incredibly worrying allegations. The final shots in this film make you lose faith in humanity, or at least, middle-class westerners.
As others have pointed out, the documentary pretty much declares him guilty from the offset and doesn't take any other angle into account. This is a very one-sided take on the issue and morally it's probably not the right way to go about it, however damning the evidence appears to be.
But even aside from the sexual abuse allegations, this man is a true charlatan. His franchised yoga is a joke and his swollen ego has been massaged for way too long. Watching even a few minutes footage of him around other people is enough to see that he is a delusional narcissist and sociopath. Hopefully this documentary will encourage people to exercise a little more caution when it comes to handing over their money and social identities to phoney gurus with God-complexes.
As others have pointed out, the documentary pretty much declares him guilty from the offset and doesn't take any other angle into account. This is a very one-sided take on the issue and morally it's probably not the right way to go about it, however damning the evidence appears to be.
But even aside from the sexual abuse allegations, this man is a true charlatan. His franchised yoga is a joke and his swollen ego has been massaged for way too long. Watching even a few minutes footage of him around other people is enough to see that he is a delusional narcissist and sociopath. Hopefully this documentary will encourage people to exercise a little more caution when it comes to handing over their money and social identities to phoney gurus with God-complexes.
Another 'Indian Guru' wow'ing the 'west' with yoga, 'inner peace' and other associated techniques... but all is not what it seems. Who would have thought!
James_Denton18 February 2022
We lived close to a Bikram yoga studio in London, which in essence means getting down into very little, in hot (temperature) conditions and stretching yourselves as defined by Bikrams teachings.
..... sweat, smell, dirt... and more... it didn't appeal to us and came as no surprise when we learnt of the accusations made towards Bikram.
The documentary was interesting to watch but I can't help metaphorically 'face palming' myself when I hear of how gullible many of these women are. "I kept going back expecting something different" says one of the supposedly intelligent women.
6 out of 10. With 3 of those stars awarded for the funniest moment of the documentary when the lawyer for the women said Bikram came off the witness stand and gave his defence team a thumbs up. What a wally!
..... sweat, smell, dirt... and more... it didn't appeal to us and came as no surprise when we learnt of the accusations made towards Bikram.
The documentary was interesting to watch but I can't help metaphorically 'face palming' myself when I hear of how gullible many of these women are. "I kept going back expecting something different" says one of the supposedly intelligent women.
6 out of 10. With 3 of those stars awarded for the funniest moment of the documentary when the lawyer for the women said Bikram came off the witness stand and gave his defence team a thumbs up. What a wally!
Well done doc on the story of Bikram yoga
bastos10 November 2020
Well done doc on the rise and fall of Bikram Choudhury, the founder of Bikram yoga, the most famous style of hot yoga in the world. I must say I had never heard of such terms and it was all a bit alien to me but the story is very compelling and well structured, as it starts as a rags to riches story and then deconstructs everything and paints a very ugly picture. It is not groundbreaking but it is effective. My only complaint, as others have already pointed out, is that it all feels a bit biased. I don't think it's enough to ruin the experience but it does have that stench of not being neutral, as a good doc should be. But, unfortunately, that virtue is becoming harder and harder to find in modern day docs.
Yoga cult
Calicodreamin25 May 2022
Would have liked for there to be a bit more resolution, but unfortunately that's how the story unfolded in real life as well. Well told story and use of archival footage. Just a weird story about a creepy guy who teaches hot yoga.
its too aggressive and polarized
ops-5253520 November 2019
The objectiveness of this documentary are lacking in far too many ways. this is my objective assesment of this documentary. i do not yogg myself but i admire the ones who streches their limits as far as shown in this film , and do feel petty for the ones that has become victimized.
what i do feel petty for also is that this documentary also discredit the yoga movement, and the practice of'' bikram'' yoga as a scam and humbug. so this documentary has not been aiding this form of activity. there will always be predators out there, in yoga, in sports in education, in religion, where the ''pupil'' are so profound and flat on the nose to be what the teacher wants you to be. so beware to all , young as old, there will always be predators and it may happen again.
the grumpy old man shouldnt have deliberated so much about it, but subjectivity and unipolar presentation is not good documentary making. its a 6 and no more than that
what i do feel petty for also is that this documentary also discredit the yoga movement, and the practice of'' bikram'' yoga as a scam and humbug. so this documentary has not been aiding this form of activity. there will always be predators out there, in yoga, in sports in education, in religion, where the ''pupil'' are so profound and flat on the nose to be what the teacher wants you to be. so beware to all , young as old, there will always be predators and it may happen again.
the grumpy old man shouldnt have deliberated so much about it, but subjectivity and unipolar presentation is not good documentary making. its a 6 and no more than that
Oblivious hot girls, new age religion and the avoidance of all responsibility
tetrahex22 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The only value the doc has is a view into the actual results of a secular world, people search for spirituality in anything they can, they seek religious leaders in the strangest of places and the desire to serve and to please leads to the usual power dynamics of exploitation. Add to this the license from the 60s revolution in all things libertine and combine this with strategic female obliviousness and you have willing fools pretending that older men take special interest in young women because they are some how "special". These are young women raised to deny biology, dressed in almost nothing in your prime, sweating, basically dancing, performing, what did you think was going on. You see this everywhere now, women craving attention, instagram exhibitionism galore, but always behind the lie of innocence, that they don't really know what they are doing, what message they are sending, that they bear no responsibility, and that society has no responsibility for enabling it. They are forever surprised at the consequences and then they cry, and that's all you see in this doc. These are women who lie to themselves, so how are they credible. The avoidance of responsibility by all parties, testimony without insight of explanation because it would be inconvenient to the ideologies of all the parties involved.
A potential tool for justice?
ernestsavesxmas13 January 2020
Pretty much boilerplate doc on a cult of personality type subject. The rise and subsequent downfall of a (way too) powerful man, etc. But it's executed well. The victims see this as a potential tool for justice, and they come across that way; they are not just pawns in another Netflix content farm cash grab.
Predator in Yogi clothing
carolinecennis21 November 2019
To anyone claiming this is one-sided: they can't edit in what you didn't say. Bikram's own interactions with the prosecutor told the story. This man felt he was above everyone and women most of all. His contempt and narcissism is palpable when you see his responses. That said- those attending his classes all silently (some vocally) condoned this abhorrent behavior. You can see how some become natural born cult leaders as there are sheep aplenty.
Good documentary, but check out the podcast
js-sherlock23 December 2019
The documentary hit all of the right beats. It explained the mania around Bikram yoga, the cult of the leader status he had, the power he leveraged over people, and his ultimate downfall, but I feel like it only scraped the surface. If you really want an in-depth look at the corruption and perversion of Bikram, check out the ESPN 30 for 30 long-form podcast on Bikram. I thought they did a better job on covering this.
Great Cover from Both Perspectives
rizkarzk5 December 2019
I very rarely leave a written review here but after reading those bad reviews stating that this documentary is somewhat bias and giving a forced perspective, I have to disagree with them. I've watched bad documentaries that left a bad taste but this isn't one of them. The documentary clearly pictured the great advantages of yoga technique and show the charming side of Bikram early in the beginning, but the story just makes it own ways to go downhill until there's no place to defend the man. So it's no fault of the documentary that the man is pictured as evil megalomaniac.
Could have been better
guisreis24 June 2023
The documentary has a very important issue (the sociapth guru who pratcined sexual harassment, psychologically dominated thousands of people, got extraordinary profit and expanded it luxuriously, escaped justice, was hot-minded and egocentric... everything not present in someone who is really aware, enlighted), rich footage (by far the greatest merit of the production), and the necessary testimonies of victims, witnesses and other involved people). Despite all that, I felt it a little messy. I do not think the script and edition had the best choices for what they had in hands. Perhaps a more chonological approach could have had a better outcome. Besides that more general cinematic observation, I add that, due yoga interest of mine, I also missed a deeper discussion on Bikram's "hot yoga", who attracted celebrities and is one of the most practived in the United States and, consequently, in the world. I missed a more attentive discussion of its roots, the relation to bodybuilding, to healthcare and physical education, the distance from old tantric origins and concerns.
Far too bias
amazoncanadakevin25 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
There was nothing here that couldn't have been said in 15 minutes. And I documentaries with such a huge bias in their point of view. This didn't even leave the door open to the idea that there is more to this story . It opens by basically stating "he's a sexual predator; and then spends 90 minutes pushing the point with little evidence. I have no doubt he is guilty but this documentary is more like a hit job than film making.
Bad energy.
REXNE17 January 2021
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