In 1968, The Beatles, under the spiritual guidance of Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, took a trip to Rishikesh, India to study transcendental meditation and set out on a path of enlightenment.
Slated for release on February 15th via BritBox in North America, the streaming service from BBC Studios and ITV, the feature documentary, The Beatles And India examines how Indian music and culture shaped the music of John, Paul, George and Ringo and in turn, explores how The Beatles served as ambassadors of this pioneering World music sound and cultural movement.
Drawing together an expansive archive of footage including contemporaneous locale shooting in India, recordings, photographs, and first-hand interviews, The Beatles And India documents this East meets West moment in pop culture history. Taking inspiration from Ajoy Bose’s book Across The Universe – The Beatles In India, the documentary is produced by British Indian music entrepreneur Reynold D’Silva and directed by Bose and cultural researcher Pete Compton. The Beatles And India has been awarded Best Film Audience Choice and Best Music at the 2021 UK Asian Film Festival “Tongues On Fire.”
Silva Screen Records, in tandem with the documentary, will be releasing a 19-song companion album: The Beatles And India: Songs Inspired by The Film, featuring interpretations of The Beatles songbook, blending traditional and contemporary Indian influences, as recorded and performed by Indian artists Anoushka Shankar (Ravi Shankar’s daughter), Vishal Dadlani, Kissnuka, Benny Dayal, Dhruv Ghanekar, Karsh Kale, and Soulmate.
Many of the songs featured on the album, including “Mother Nature’s Son,” “Dear Prudence,” “Sexy Sadie,” Back in the USSR,” “I’m So Tired,” “Julia,” I Will,” “The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill,” Everybody’s Got Something to Hide (Except for Me and My Monkey),” and “Child of Nature,” were written during The Beatles’ 1968 extended stay in Rishikesh, India and most would feature on the group’s 1968 double-album, The Beatles, better known as “The White Album.”
