Ode to an Inner Odyssey: Taking the Spiritual Path to Embrace the ‘Perfect Chaos’ Within

As you start watching the documentary ‘Perfect Chaos’, here’s what might capture your imagination almost immediately – amid the cacophony of bustling crowds and honking horns, a young biker embarks on his “seeker’s journey” across the diverse landscapes of India.

But make no mistake – this isn’t your typical tale of a foreign tourist’s solo escapades in India; it rather goes above and beyond to portray a genius cinematic demonstration of one’s inward exploration – a quest that shall take you, the viewer, on a memorable spiritual sojourn.

Originally envisioned by Scott Randolph, and brought to life thanks to the dedication of Josh Seven, ‘Perfect Chaos’ is a pathbreaking film which transcends the boundaries and limitations of an ordinary travelogue. The seeds of this remarkable project were planted years ago through small talks between two creative minds, Josh and Scott, who were neighbors back in Los Angeles, USA.

When Scott – a long-time practitioner of Transcendental Meditation – expressed his keen desire to deep-dive into India’s spiritual legacy by undertaking a trip wherein he would visit different places bearing great devotional heritage across the country, Josh offered to help him in turning his cherished dream into a reality. And that’s how it all began!

The Journey Commences: Overview and Pitstops

Cut to December 2017, accompanied by a small crew following him in a Mahindra Bolero SUV, Scott set out on his “spiritual voyage of a lifetime” from Mumbai, riding on a Royal Enfield motorcycle. By this time, Josh had already planned out every minute aspect of the journey, from logistics to crew selection to accommodation and so on meticulously. Their six-member crew team consisted of the cinematographer, the camera operator, the assistant cameraperson and a motorcycle specialist, along with Josh as the executive producer and Scott as the director.

As the journey unfolded, each sacred site – the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat; the Jagdish temple in Udaipur, Rajasthan; the Krishna Temple in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh – acted as a stepping stone on Scott’s path towards self-discovery. After visiting the ethereal Taj Mahal in Agra, they continued further North to visit the twin spiritual hubs of Haridwar and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. Here, they took a dip in the Holy Ganges River and visited the Lahiri Mahashaya Temple alongside the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram, where the iconic Beatles had once stayed.

Their pilgrimage reached a particularly momentous point near Haldwani, Uttarakhand. Here, Scott ventured to Babaji’s Cave (The Mahavatar Babaji Cave, regarded as the birthplace of Kriya Yoga), and thereafter underwent a deep, transformative spiritual revelation in himself that was nothing short of a miracle. “The moment we reached the cave of Babaji was profound, as I saw a whole new being emerge (in Scott). It was the evolution of a meandering soul into a personality of focus and clarity; there was an effortless brightness enveloping him with an air of lightness and ease emanating in all directions,” reflects Josh, while recollecting the experience.

A few days later, the crew travelled through Lucknow and arrived at the ancient holy city of Varanasi, where witnessing the Ganga Aarti ceremony added another layer of significance to the journey. After leaving Uttar Pradesh, they reached Bodh Gaya in Bihar, where they received the rare opportunity to meditate under the same tree where Lord Buddha had attained his enlightenment. Finally, the journey winds up at the Yogoda Satsang Society headquarters in Kolkata, West Bengal, marking the end of this intriguing roller-coaster experience both for Scott and his entire crew.

Overcoming Roadblocks, Winning Hearts

Of course, with its unique on-the-go and run-and-gun style approach of shooting, the challenges faced by the film’s crew were manifold – from securing accommodation on a daily basis to navigating treacherous roads to near-accident situations, and beyond. However, the ever-resourceful Josh, who was heading the crew, successfully tackled each obstacle with resilience and ingenuity, while ensuring that the production stayed on track, despite the unpredictable travel schedule and on-the-job learnings. By the end of the shooting process, overcoming all of these hurdles not only seemed worth it, but also served as a metaphorical reminder of the fact of life that the most transformative journeys are often fraught with unexpected detours and uncertainties.

The post-production process was a labour of love, which took several months, as Josh and Scott, along with their team sifted through countless hours of footage to distill the essence of their groundbreaking journey into a compelling narrative. Once a well-edited, festival ready cut was prepared, they began presenting it to reputed film festivals throughout 2019 and 2020. A particular highlight was the selection of ‘Perfect Chaos’ at the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival in 2021. As it is an Academy-qualifying film festival for the Oscars, premiering there brought with it a lot of prestige and attention.

The film’s grand success eventually paved the way for its distribution on IndieFlix’s streaming platform in 2022, thus enabling it to reach audiences worldwide and spark conversations about the fascinating human quest for seeking spiritual purpose and meaning. It also, in a way, marked a pleasant culmination of the long, arduous journey pursued by the creative brains behind the film. For Josh in particular, the project was a “fantastic learning opportunity” that helped him expand his creative horizons substantially, and enabled him to “become more freewheeling and eclectic” in terms of his choices and routines while pursuing further ventures.

Final Thoughts, and Exploring the Road Ahead

The portrayal of Scott’s inner transformation in a subtle yet impactful manner throughout the film has been captured with poignant intimacy, allowing viewers to ‘feel’ his ‘experienced’ emotional shifts on a personal level. Simultaneously as the journey progresses, we can observe the peeling away of Scott’s conditioned beliefs and pre-conceived notions, replaced by a newfound clarity and peace. Thus, the film’s message resonates universally, inviting viewers to contemplate and act upon their own inner quests, to harness the immense untapped potential of self-discovery and spiritual awakening that lies within.

This soul-stirring documentary does not just leave a lasting impression, but shall also ignite in each and every serious viewer a desire to pursue their own spiritual path in order to find their ultimate inner truth and peace. Going ahead, as the film continues to reach more and more audiences across the globe, it seeks to inspire and encourage each and every viewer to seize the opportunity to pursue their own journey of discovering and embracing their inner self.

Josh perfectly concludes with, “Every journey begins with the first step. The journey towards inner peace and tranquility is a long and meandering river which we can swim with and let it carry us or dive deep and see what flows. The beauty and gift which is life, is rich and illustrious with its experiences and discoveries. To everyone – take the first step, the water’s fine.”

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