This is based loosely on George Harrison's (of the Beatles) first visit to India in September 1966 to study with Ravi Shankar.
I'm pretty sure that all the interactions of the main characters are fiction, including the entire Jennifer character.
But the overall framework is mostly accurate (he first stayed in a hotel in Bombay, he did have a famous girl friend named "Patty" ,not "Patsy", and note the passing motorist who says "It's All Too Much"). And all the minor characters and scenes of India are incredibly accurate and authentic.
All the locations in India are filmed exactly as stated - I've been in most of them! (The Ganges boat ride gave me a strong sense of deja vu, as I've done exactly that trip.)
Michael York in one of his first roles, is good as the Beatle, albeit a trifle too low-key, although that perhaps may be part of the direction or the times.
The soundtrack is excellent and is written and performed by perhaps the best sitarist in India, Ustad Vilayat Khan.
The film's lack of success is probably due to the fact that it was too artsy for Average Joe, but too elementary for those Westerners who were already interested Indian music, culture or philosophy. Perhaps, in 1969, it reached a segment of the younger audience who were just becoming interested in the concept of being a hippie...
I'm pretty sure that all the interactions of the main characters are fiction, including the entire Jennifer character.
But the overall framework is mostly accurate (he first stayed in a hotel in Bombay, he did have a famous girl friend named "Patty" ,not "Patsy", and note the passing motorist who says "It's All Too Much"). And all the minor characters and scenes of India are incredibly accurate and authentic.
All the locations in India are filmed exactly as stated - I've been in most of them! (The Ganges boat ride gave me a strong sense of deja vu, as I've done exactly that trip.)
Michael York in one of his first roles, is good as the Beatle, albeit a trifle too low-key, although that perhaps may be part of the direction or the times.
The soundtrack is excellent and is written and performed by perhaps the best sitarist in India, Ustad Vilayat Khan.
The film's lack of success is probably due to the fact that it was too artsy for Average Joe, but too elementary for those Westerners who were already interested Indian music, culture or philosophy. Perhaps, in 1969, it reached a segment of the younger audience who were just becoming interested in the concept of being a hippie...