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One Track Heart: The Story Of Krishna Das

ONE TRACK HEART: THE STORY OF KRISHNA DAS (Jeremy Frindel). 74 minutes. Opens Friday (October 18). See listings. Rating: NN


Singer Krishna Das started life as Jeffrey Kagel, a morose kid playing the blues on Long Island, before he travelled to India, devoured the teachings of the Maharaj-ji and devoted himself to kirtan, a form of Indian devotional music.

In sketching Das’s journey toward spiritual fulfilment, concert tours and Grammy nominations, One Track Heart essentially tells one story three times – that of a tormented seeker who undergoes a near-paralyzing existential crisis, usually exacerbated by excessive drug use, only to recover his sense of purpose in faith and song.

Writer/director Jeremy Frindel doesn’t have to work hard to convince us of Das’s cultural significance. Among the interview subjects who declare their deep love for Das are science journalist Daniel Goleman, a singer by the name of Wah! and legendary record producer Rick Rubin.

But Frindel’s serviceable profile is far from profound, asking few questions about, for example, the roots of Das’s internal strife and desperate longing for gurus. One Track Heart would have benefited from fewer generalizations about enlightenment and more engagement with the material world.

At least Das himself makes a compelling subject. Witty and frank, he seems always to be struggling to find a balance between ambition and humility. “Even when I think I’m a wave,” he says, “I’m just ocean.”

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