"For movies to celebrate an entrepreneur is rare - usually you get exposés -but not wrong. Guru's nearest equivalent might be "It's a Wonderful Life", except that this small businessman has to cope with success, not failure.

"And there's no denying the dramatic oomph of the climactic courtroom scene, with Gurukant defending himself and the class he stands for. Still, it doesn't seem like a natural weave for Mani Ratnam. This "Guru" is more like a fine polyester," he said.

L.A. Weekly said: "Ratnam's enthralling and eventful new picture 'Guru' is one of his best yet; in fact it may be the best Indian commercial (Bollywood) movie since the Oscar-nominated 'Lagaan' (2000)."

It added: "The flamboyantly gifted Indian moviemaker Mani Ratnam has an epic romantic temperament, like a reform-minded 19th century novelist, with a great eye and a trunk full of Panavision lenses."

Lou Lumenick of The New York Post said: "Mani Ratnam's often absorbing 'Guru' is sort of a Bollywood 'Citizen Kane', a decades-spanning drama with a compelling Abhishek Bachchan as a ruthless Indian business tycoon who refuses to take no for an answer.

"Gorgeous superstar Rai's several lavish musical numbers, while entertaining, seem to belong in another movie," he said describing the film as "resembling a lavish Hollywood prestige film of the 1960s".

Murphy's Movie Reviews said what Mani Ratnam "has crafted in 'Guru' is a superb film that profiles a man driven to succeed".