Female Filmmakers Chronicle the Rise of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation Ahead of the World Culture Festival

Acclaimed filmmakers Priya Narayanan and Sejal Saraiya take the spotlight as they explore their forthcoming documentary, ‘From Head To Heart: The Humble Origins of a Global Movement,’ which traces the remarkable growth of the Art of Living Foundation. Established by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, this worldwide movement has impacted millions through meditation and breathwork practices.

Narayanan and Saraiya use their exceptional storytelling skills to provide a new perspective, highlighting the organization’s modest origins in California and the pioneering Americans who inadvertently laid the groundwork for a significant meditation movement. 

Their goal is to motivate viewers with stories of change, unity, and the influence of a visionary leader. 

A Glimpse into the Art of Living Foundation’s Roots

The Art of Living Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with a mission to assist individuals in reducing stress and anxiety through breathwork and meditation. Since its inception, the Foundation has helped people from all walks of life reduce stress and feel more connected to their surroundings. The courses are based on SKY Breath Meditation, an evidence-based technique proven by independent research to reduce stress and increase energy with just a few minutes of practice.

In partnership with its sister organization, the International Association for Human Values, AOL volunteers provide US-based and worldwide service initiatives to support at-risk youth, women’s empowerment, disaster and trauma relief, prisoner rehabilitation, and veteran trauma relief.

Capturing the Untold Story of Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation

Saraiya and Narayanan shared their inspiration and insights into their upcoming documentary about the rise of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation. As filmmakers, their mission has been to document culturally enriching stories and the extraordinary power of the human spirit.

Saraiya, known for her passion for preserving cultural heritage, explained, “Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s journey in promoting peace, ethical leadership, and global transformation deeply resonates with us. The World Culture Festival, one of his visionary projects, symbolizes unity in a divided world and has drawn a crowd of nearly six million people. We were inspired to capture the deep connection between the Foundation and the American people who were its founding members.”

Narayanan added, “The mind-boggling scale of the event gives the impression of an organization of immense wealth and resources, when in fact it is a volunteer-run organization with a global impact that is almost impossible to achieve in the short span of 40 years. This remarkable feat can only be fully appreciated when one has the context of how it began.”

The untimely passing of a dear friend, Jeffrey Ainis, a former associate editor at the Hollywood Reporter and a founding disciple of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, further propelled their mission. Saraiya expressed, “Jeffrey held a treasure chest of stories from the early beginnings of the Foundation that are unknown to most others. With his passing, it felt as though stories and knowledge from an important era were fading away. This made it even more critical and urgent for us to capture the narratives of this group and document this story as a homage.”

Documenting the Humble Origins

When asked about their approach to capturing the essence of the World Culture Festival in their film, Narayanan explained, “We very much wanted to focus on the early beginnings of Art of Living. I am married to someone who was one of the founding members, and the stories I heard about those days have often moved me to tears. The focus of this documentary is on the very early days of Art of Living in the USA, somewhere between 1984 and 1991. It’s a fascinating story of a grassroots movement which eventually took the world by storm. We wanted to tell this story through the eyes of those who were there in the very beginning who unknowingly were laying the foundation stones of this movement.“ 

Saraiya said, “The World Culture Festival has often been called the ‘Cultural Olympics’ because no other celebration of performing arts and cultures has taken place with such grandeur, bringing together cultural artists, celebrities, and political leaders on the same grounds. Where fading cultures are revived, thriving cultures are celebrated, and Indigenous elders receive the respect they deserve. This year, the event will take place at the iconic location where Martin Luther King delivered his historic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, further fostering the fight against racism.”

“To share the story of how one man with no resources starts something that transforms the world may inspire future generations to dream the unimaginable,” added Narayanan.

The filmmakers also highlighted the impact of the Art of Living Foundation and its non-profit initiatives. “At its core, it is a social impact film that addresses the global mental health crisis by showcasing the value of meditation and spirituality in one’s life. The Foundation has positively impacted millions worldwide and operates in 180 countries. It is run by over tens of thousands of volunteers dedicated to Gurudev’s mission of building empowered communities through meditation and breathwork,” Saraiya said. 

Reflecting on their experiences during the filmmaking process, Narayanan shared, “Telling the story of Art of Living’s journey from humble beginnings to its current massive scale presents both exciting and challenging opportunities in our film. I found the varied backgrounds of our protagonists to be very compelling—Christian, Jewish, middle class, blue collar, men, women—mostly seasoned meditators, all coming together in the late 80’s to spread the vision of a young man from India—a virtual stranger to them.”

Wrapping up the subject, Saraiya concluded, “Through this documentary, we aim to convey the story of a visionary who dedicated his life to uplifting humanity and inspiring people to dream big and create a better world. Our collaboration as female filmmakers allowed us to create a safe space for our subjects to share their stories. The vulnerability, honesty, and genuine narratives we encountered during the making of this film were incredibly moving and cathartic for all involved.”

Bridging Divides, Celebrating Unity

The World Culture Festival, which will commence on September 29, 2023, is an iconic cultural extravaganza that celebrates the world’s unity and incredible diversity through song, dance, delicious global cuisine, meditation, and dialogue. Born out of inspiration to create a celebration that reflected the world’s unity and incredible diversity, the Festival has entertained, thrilled, and inspired more than six million people over the past 20 years. 

Filmmakers Narayanan and Saraiya bring this extraordinary cinematic experience into context and to life. Their film is a powerful reminder of the Festival’s mission: to unite people from all walks of life, transcend boundaries, and inspire a shared vision for a better world.

Reflections on the Film and the Anticipation of the World Culture Festival 

In their upcoming documentary, filmmakers Narayanan and Saraiya weave narratives of unity, transformation, and the power of a wise teacher. It is a testament to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision for a harmonious world. 

As the World Culture Festival approaches, the film reminds us of the extraordinary capacity of individuals to create positive change and inspire generations. 

Narayanan says, “The last three editions of the World Culture Festival reached six million people both online and in-person, making it the most successful recurring global artistic event in human history. On September 29, 2023, we will gather together for the 4th edition of this event on the steps of the iconic National Mall. Few know that this organization started in a home in California with a motley bunch of baby boomers seeking a deeper meaning in life. Contextualizing our film with its story of the early humble beginnings to an event of such a massive scale is both challenging and exciting.”

The documentary From Head to Heart: The Humble Origins of a Global Movement, about the rise of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation, will have its world premiere at the World Culture Festival.