The Answer Movie

The Answer tells the powerful true story of an American James Donald Walters, his youthful quest for truth which took him from his birthplace in Romania, to Switzerland and England, and finally to the United States, where in 1948 in Hollywood, California he has the extraordinary meeting with Paramhansa Yogananda, the great Indian master and author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Young Donald—later Swami Kriyananda—is immediately accepted as disciple and so his amazing spiritual journey begins.

This film is the saga of his anguished search, of his momentary illuminations and dark nights, of his determination to never give up, and of the winding path that leads him to the presence of his spiritual master. In his quest, we recognize the eternal search of every individual; through his inner battles, the discovery of our own inner strength; in his attunement with the expanded vision of his master, the hope for our own illuminations.

The Answer is an epic motion picture that presents, for the first time on the cinematic screen, one of the most widely-known and revered spiritual masters of our times, Paramhansa Yogananda, through the living testimony and in the own words of his direct disciple Swami Kriyananda who lived with him, and vowed to carry his light to future generations.

A first in the genre of a movie of a true guru-disciple relationship, the message it movie carries, is universal. Paramhansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi remains the highest selling autobiography in all languages since 1946. The book was also lately in the news when Steve Jobs revealed that he read it every year and gifted it to attendees at his memorial service.

The film is a period piece, set in the 1920’s through the 1950’s and is filmed across the U.S. and Europe. Featuring an ensemble cast headed by Victor Banerjee (from David Lean’s A Passage to India) who plays the role of Yogananda, the movie is an unforgettable visual and emotional experience.