Ma Anand Sheela, the notorious spokesperson for the widely followed spiritual leader Osho, returns to India after many years. Embarking on an interview tour, she engages with prominent journalists like Barkha Dutt and Shoma Chaudhury, as well as filmmaker Karan Johar and photographer Raghu Rai. Delving into past scandals and her association with “Bhagwan,” Sheela captures headlines once more, but this time not as a suspected murderer.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 22 April 2021 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Biography, Crime, Documentary |
| Duration | 58min |
| Director | Shakun Batr |
| Music | Benedict Taylor, Naren Chandavarkar |
| Producer | Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra |
| Production | Dharma Productions |
| Certificate | 16+ |
Searching For Sheela appears on Netflix like a divine intervention, arriving without a designated director. The documentary, focusing on Rajneesh’s former aide Anand Sheela, lists credits for two production companies and Shakun Batra, known for Kapoor & Sons, as the executive producer. However, the absence of a credited director raises questions about who truly shaped the material into the final 59-minute film. Could it be Batra or editor Nilesh Bhatia, or perhaps the enigmatic figure behind the camera, Sheela Birnstiel herself? Like many mysteries surrounding Birnstiel, this remains unanswered.
Wild Wild Country showcased sensational footage of the Rajneeshis’ activities, Sheelaisms as Sheela confronted journalists, and evidence of numerous crimes, including immigration fraud and attempted murder, for which she was convicted in 1986. Despite being sentenced to 20 years, she served only 39 months before relocating to Europe, eventually settling in Switzerland.
Her celebrity status led to the 2020 authorized biography Nothing To Lose by Manabeena Sandhu. Searching for Sheela, filmed in 2019, documents Birnstiel’s return to India after 35 years. The film follows her journey through Delhi, Vadodara, and Mumbai, portraying her as an enigmatic survivor.
Despite attempts to control her narrative, Birnstiel evades questions about her past, deflecting with cryptic statements. While some, like designer Bina Ramani, empathize with her, others, like journalist Barkha Dutt, question her role in Rajneeshpuram’s downfall. However, the documentary fails to address why Birnstiel remains of interest without her connection to Rajneesh.
Journalist Shoma Chaudhury confronts Birnstiel with the accusation of bio-terrorism, highlighting the documentary’s missed opportunity to explore the complexities of her character and her followers’ fascination with her. Ultimately, Searching For Sheela falls short of providing a deep understanding of its subject, instead presenting a superficial narrative lacking critical analysis.
