Yogacharya B. K. S. Iyengar: Uniting Through Yoga
A documentary that explores the legacy of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, this film will take you on an emotional journey that encompasses the yogic practice and personal life of one of the greatest yoga masters to have ever lived.
Interview with Writer/Director/Editor Vishaal Desai
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
While I myself have been a yoga practitioner for years, albeit an inconsistent one, I had never quite considered delving into the philosophy of yoga. When my friend Mrinal Kapadia approached me with the offer to collaborate on this film about B.K.S. Iyengar, I realised that this was an opportunity for me to explore both the art and science of this practice through the experiences and legacy of a man who offered yoga as not just a form of exercise but as a way of life. As someone who has struggled with anxiety and an inability to achieve peace of mind, I was fascinated to learn how yoga could have a positive impact not just on physical health but also on mental health.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
While this film has a specific focus on the world of yoga, I would posit that one does not necessarily need to have an interest in yoga to be an audience for this story. While the film highlights and chronicles one man's legacy, it also aims to humanise a revered figure in an attempt to make it relatable to those who may choose to follow his teachings.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The themes of identity, self-discovery and personal culture have always resonated in all of my works. And this is true for this documentary as well. The journey of B.K.S. Iyengar was one of discovery as, through yoga, he overcame a fatal illness in his teens to live to the ripe old age of 96. And his discoveries led to him sharing his personal culture with the rest of the world. This was a man of many identities, a student, a teacher, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend and at times even a tyrant in class. His multi-faceted personality, while intimidating to some is ultimately what makes him human and relatable and that is the core of what this documentary tries to achieve.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
This film was partially produced using crowd-sourced interviews and there was no script initially as the narrative had to be built around the experiences and stories of the interviewees. Our goal was to first compile the footage, which included interviews that I shot in India and interviews that were sourced remotely from people across more than 50 different countries. Once we had acquired close to 200 hours of footage in addition to archival footage and images, I proceeded to find and build the story through the edit. In essence, I only had a sliver of a concept i.e. to discover the legacy of this man. And only when I began combing through hours of footage was I truly able to delve into the magnitude of his impact, not only on the world, but also on the practice and perception of yoga itself.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback that we received has been largely positive. Members of the Iyengar yoga community have undoubtedly found the film to be a positive reflection of their Guru. Beyond this audience, the film has also attracted a general populace of those who are either yoga practitioners or are interested in it. The film covers several aspects and benefits of yoga including those of a medical nature, which has served to not only bolster fortitude but also cure ailments and this is something that has captured the attention of those who perhaps were not as attuned to this form of exercise.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
A lot of the feedback that we have received has been from the yoga community, specifically the Iyengar yoga community, which in and of itself is large and globally present. Because the film focused entirely on a revered figure, the audience's interest was driven by people who knew the man or knew of him. However, the documentary focuses not just on the legacy of this one man, but also on the global impact and benefits of yoga and given the rising global popularity of yoga, it does have the potential for a much larger audience.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Most people are perhaps aware of what yoga is and why it may be beneficial as a form of exercise. However, I am hoping to also increase awareness of the benefits of yoga as a philosophy and for mental health. And I believe that the story of a man who spent 80 years of his life doing just that would serve as invaluable inspiration.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Distributors, Film Festival Directors, Journalists
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
It would be amazing if this film served as a medium to spread knowledge about yoga and its various benefits, including mental health.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What is the philosophy of yoga and how does it benefit mental health?
Would you like to add anything else?
Website: www.vishaaldesai.com
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2925060
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
The unique nature of this film's production and post-production led to me developing a renewed passion for editing and eventually doing a graduate degree in the field from DePaul University in Chicago. While I am currently focused on working as an editor on several projects, I am also developing a 5 episode limited series about an Indian-American immigrant family, which focuses on contentious relationships with cultural identity and family values.
Interview: February 2024
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Yogacharya B. K. S. Iyengar: Uniting Through Yoga
A documentary that explores the legacy of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, this film will take you on an emotional journey that encompasses the yogic practice and personal life of one of the greatest yoga masters to have ever lived.
Length: 1:15:00
Director: Vishaal Desai
Producer: Devdatt Kapadia, Mrinal Kapadia
Writer: Vishaal Desai
About the writer, director and producer:
A filmmaker from Mumbai with an unyielding passion for storytelling, VISHAAL DESAI has, over the past 15 years, accumulated extensive experience as a filmmaker, working on a range of projects. His most recent work includes producing the award-winning HOOQ original show Bhak and his debut documentary feature on the renowned yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar, which won Best Documentary at the Indo-Global Film Festival and acquired distribution on Amazon. He is an avid traveller and cook and likes to spend his free time exploring cultures through the wonders of food.
Key cast: B.K.S. Iyengar (himself), Geeta Iyengar (herself), Prashant Iyengar (himself)
Looking for: distributors, journalists, film festival directors, sales agents
Instagram: @v1shfilms
Hashtags used: #iyengaryoga #bksiyengar
Other: IMDb
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
On Amazon Prime