Posters of “On a Quest,” a film on the life of Swami Chinmayananda, are seen in a movie theater.
The premiere of “On a Quest,” a film on the life of Swami Chinmayananda, was held at the Laguna Hills Mall Cinema in Laguna Hills, Calif., April 11.
Members of the Chinmaya Mission-Los Angeles attended the event, along with invitees from like-minded organizations such as the Brea Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Vedanta Society, BAPS, Ekal Vidyalaya and SSY.
Before the screening of the two-hour film began, prayers were offered and CMLA’s head acharya Swami Ishwarananda, along with acharya Mahadevji, spoke about Swami Chinmayananda’s life.
CMLA board president Dr. D.V. Pillai described the spiritual leader as one of the “best sons that India had produced.”
“On a Quest” details the journey of a young Balakrishna Menon from an atheist to a spiritual master, showcasing different stages of his life as he transitions from a curious child to a fiery student union leader and a thinking journalist who believed that “India is free, but not Indians.”
As an atheist, he traveled to Rishikesh, saying, “Religion is the opium of the masses; I’m going to expose those drug peddlers.”
The fast-paced narrative also includes his meeting with Swami Sivanananda. Upon receiving the answer to his question — “Why is there so much evil and injustice around? If this is the best that God can do, then I’m not impressed” — his quest deepens and sets him off in a different direction.
Siddhartha Nuni, whose credits include “Life of Pi” and “Lucia,” is the cinematographer of the film, which is directed by R.S. Prasanna.
The movie concludes with the organization’s current head, Swami Tejomayananda, saying to devotees, “Start walking and the path will appear.”
A poignant moment in the film is when he answers the question, “How do you feel walking in his (Swami Chinmayananda’s) shoes?”
He responds with humility, “I am not in his shoes, but at his feet.”