::: George Christy ::: From the Beverly Hills Courier

A triple celebration it was. Paul Davids previewed his provocative and long-awaited documentary, Jesus In India, at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills during the weekend afternoon when wife Hollace Davids, UniversalÕs senior v-p of special projects, was congratulated on her birthday before departing for her family dinner at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena. And PaulÕs co-producer and co-editor Anil Kumar Urmil was celebrating his birthday as well. Paul gave us the award-winning The Sci-Fi Boys and Starry Night about artist Vincent Van Gogh, which theorizes the theory that if the artist returned to us today heÕd be ignored, just as he was during his lifetime. A Princeton graduate, where he experienced a spiritual awakening, Paul was the recipient of writing prizes that included the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story contest, along with poetry and humor awards. Among the first students on full fellowship at the American Film Institute Center for Advanced Film Studies, he studied with Terence Malick, David Lynch, Caleb Deschanel, Jeremy Kagan. As the writer, director, producer, cinematographer and editor of Jesus In India, he and his associates traveled more than 4,000 miles. ÒWe followed a schedule of 40 days and nights that Ani planned, even hiring our terrific film crews. AniÕs the son of a Hindu father and Catholic mother, both from India, and knew about the claims of JesusÕ travels there. We spent a day or two in 2l cities, guerilla filmmaking around the clock, charting the journey of our associate producer Edward Martin, the former Texas Fundamentalist, whoÕs passionately pursued the legend of JesusÕ travels in India. With our tight budget, we roomed with the crew, and one of my Muslim roommates would awaken at 5 AM for his prayers. We confronted terrorism, floods, impassable roads, arduous train travel, unforgiving heat, the risk of theft of our equipment, even a summer monsoon, with ferocious storms chasing us. Crippled with polio during his childhood, Ani was in a wheelchair and kept up with us É we never missed a train.Ó Inspiration for the movie occurred when Paul was introduced by associate producer Robert Rotstan Jr. to Biblical scholar and English teacher Edward Martin, who was ousted from his Fundamentalist church when he asked after JesusÕ Òhidden years,Ó from ages 12 to 30. Fellow church members scolded him with, ÒIf God wanted you to know about that, it would be in the Bible. Worry about your own salvation!Ó Undeterred, Edward committed to researching those missing years, and wrote King of Travelers, JesusÕ Lost Years in India, which Paul claims Òwill jolt you and challenge much of what youÕve always taken for granted É in the Bible, young Jesus is 12 years old, speaking with the Jewish doctors of the law in the temple of Jerusalem, and suddenly on the next page it Ôjump-cutsÕ to his being 30 years old and being baptized at the River Jordan by his cousin, John the Baptist. Only one sentence in the Gospel of Luke connects the years that ÔJesus grew in stature and in wisdom and in favor with God and man.Õ For Ed, it was the beginning of a personal quest thatÕs occupied most of his life.Ó Visually vibrant with images of their odyssey in India, the film is enhanced and an arresting musical score by Brian Thomas Lambert, a lifelong student of Christian and Hindu theology. Dozens of images of master works from artists ranging from Rembrandt to Michelangelo are interspersed between discussions with His Holiness The 19th Dalai Lama, His Holiness The Shankarachaya, spiritual leader of the Hindus, Buddhist Brother Chidananda, naysayer Monsignor Corrado Balducci of the Vatican, Princeton professor and author Elaine Pagels, who claims we Òcannot rule out the possibility that Jesus went to India,Ó perspectives from Jewish law professor Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, along with a psychiatrist, a former Jesuit priest, and author-expert Suzanne Olsson, convinced that the ProphetÕs Tomb in Kashmir is the true site of JesusÕ earthly remains, and regrets, along with other historians, that the Muslims will not allow a DNA to be performed. ÒWe risked our lives to get critical footage at this disputed tomb in what is now a Muslim district,Ó adds Paul, Òbut succeeded beyond our expectations.Ó Paul also informs that the keepers of JesusÕ shroud in Turin will not permit a DNA sample. Scholars have come to believe Jesus joined a caravan that followed the Silk Road to the East, lived with Hindus and Buddhists, appreciative of the love for Him and the countryÕs hospitality before beginning His ministry in Israel. ÒSeeking permission for inclusion in the film of the Dalai Lama took nearly half a year,Ó says Paul. ÒWeary after all our filming and travels, we were returning to Los Angeles by way of Mumbai, and once again were miraculously protected. As the plane taxied down the airport runway, monsoons intensified around us, and we were delayed through torrential downpours. Finally allowed to take off, ours was the very last plane to leave Mumbai for over a week, as 33 inches of rain flooded the city in one single day and one thousand people died, mainly from being electrocuted by low-lying power lines drenched in deep puddles. Our filming expedition was then followed by months of shooting in the U. S. Were we obsessed? Of course, but are greatly proud of our efforts. Jesus In India begins with a mystery and awakens us to opening our minds.Ó Attended by former First Lady Nancy Reagan, his loyal friend, the service at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills began with the stirring sounds of Amazing Grace, sung by the 500 congregants during Merv GriffinÕs funeral service, officiated by Rev. George OÕBrien. Other hymns followed, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaking eloquently and humorously about his friendship with Merv. ÒI tried to talk him into fitness, he tried to teach me acting.Ó the Governor kidded, Òand we were both disasters.Ó Tony Griffin recalled his dad perennially reminding him Òto make it funny,Ó as he did during his loving eulogy. A major presence in our community, San Mateo-born Merv was beloved by millions for his talk show, interviewing 25,000 guests over 20 years. He launched his showbusiness career singing in Freddy MartinÕs Orchestra, lucked into a Number One hit when he was 19, singing IÕve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts with a Cockney dialect. MervÕs hit game shows followed, among them the long-running Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. During his last days at the hospital when the doctors were optimistic about his health, his loyal PR doyenne Marcia Newberger booked him to perform with the Pink Martini band at the Hollywood Bowl in mid-September. ÒWhich he was very excited about,Ó says Marcia. While at the hospital, he was busy plotting his new TV game show, Crosswords, which premieres next month. Tony reminded us that Merv was a crossword puzzle wizard, would polish off several within minutes. A businessman blessed with the Midas touch, he bought the Beverly Hilton, the Givenchy Spa in Palm Springs, properties here and in Ireland, racehorses, and more. He was purportedly worth $l.6 billion. A buffet reception followed at the Beverly Hilton, hosted by owner Beny Alagem, with the Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra performing When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, and with remembrances from friends. Here and there were MervÕs ex-wife Julann, MervÕs grandchildren, 12-year-old Farah, and 8-year-old Donovan Mervyn, MervÕs COO Ronnie Walls., who was MervÕs driver at age 19 and been with the empire for 26 years, ,Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, Fred Hayman and Betty Endo, Judy Balaban, who was engaged to Merv when she was 18, David Bender, who authored MervÕs autobiography, Jena and Michael King, who lately traveled to Africa with Bill Clinton, William Morris chief Jim Wiatt, congratulated on inviting our superstar agent Ed Limato to come aboard the agency, Ryan Seacrest, Sherry Lansing, Joanna Carson, Karyn and Dick Carson (JohnnyÕs brother), Sally Kellerman, Dominick Dunne, Gary Pudney with sister Judy, Bo Derek, Pat and Dick Van Patten, Amy and Wayne Rogers, Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel. Glimpsed were Peter Barsocchini, thrilled with the criticsÕ raves for High School Musical 2 (which Peter wrote and which attracted a record-breaking cable audience), Murray Schwartz, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Barbara and Warren Cowan, Kevin Sasaki, who assisted with the OsmondsÕ 50th anniversary reunion, Jackie Collins, Barry Krost, David Foster, Barbara Davis, Nancy Davis Rickel, Renee Taylor and Joe Bologna with son Gabe, Carol Connors, Mickey Dolentz, Dick Van Dyke, Carl Reiner, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, Jeni and Barry Thurston, Jerry Sharell, Paul Ryan, Bob Thomas, Stan Freberg, Prince Frederick von Anhalt wishing he could convince wife Zsa Zsa Gabor to step out ÑÒsheÕs shy and sensitive about being seen in a wheelchair.Ó Online at www.bhcourier.com.