'The Answer' grabs award at international fest

"The Answer" - a film that traces the life of yoga guru Paramhansa Yogananda's late American devotee Swami Kriyananda - has bagged the Best Narrative Feature Film Audience Choice Award at the Awareness Film Festival in Los Angeles.

It won the honour at the 10-day festival which concluded on September 20.

The film features veteran actor Victor Banerjee as Yogananda. The role of Kriyananda -- who lived in India for several years -- has been played by Leon Gulaptis from Australia.

"The Answer" saw a full house in Regal Cinemas at LA LIVE allotted to the festival. It stirred emotions, and many in the audience were seen in tears, producer Kaveeta Oberoi Kaul told IANS.

The Gorakhpur-born Yogananda moved to the US in 1920 and lived there until his death in 1952, preaching Kriya Yoga and meditation to tens of thousands of Americans.

Kaul had earlier told IANS that "The Answer" was a true story written in first person by James Donald Walters, popularly known as Swami Kriyananda. It is based on his autobiography "The New Path".

Pavan Kaul, a Bollywood veteran known for his technical expertise, has directed the film. Hiroo Keswani is the cinematographer and Aseem Sinha is the editor.

Shot extensively in Europe, North America and Asia, "The Answer" was selected at the Central Florida Film Festival as well as the Awareness Film Festival.