Mississippi Masala - Revision history

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	\|caption = Theatrical release poster		\|caption = Theatrical release poster
	\|director = [[Mira Nair]]		\|director = [[Mira Nair]]
	\|producer = Mira Nair<br>[[SCS Films\|Studio Canal Souss]]		\|producer = Mira Nair<br />[[SCS Films\|Studio Canal Souss]]
	\|writer = [[Sooni Taraporevala]]		\|writer = [[Sooni Taraporevala]]
	\| starring = {{plainlist\|		\| starring = {{plainlist\|
	* [[Denzel Washington]]		* [[Denzel Washington]]
			* [[Roshan Seth]]
	* [[Sarita Choudhury]]		* [[Sarita Choudhury]]
	* [[Roshan Seth]]
	* [[Charles S. Dutton]]		* [[Charles S. Dutton]]
	* [[Joe Seneca]]}}		* [[Joe Seneca]]}}
	\|music = [[L. Subramaniam]]		\|music = [[L. Subramaniam]]
	\|cinematography = Edward Lachman		\|cinematography = [[Edward Lachman]]
	\|editing = Roberto Silvi		\|editing = Roberto Silvi
	\|distributor = [[Cinecom Pictures]]<br>[[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]] (~~USA~~)		\|distributor = [[Palace Pictures]] (United Kingdom)<ref>{{cite web\|title=Mississippi Masala (1991)\|website=[[BBFC]]\|access-date=11 November 2021\|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/mississippi-masala-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmtm3mji}}</ref><br />[[Cinecom Pictures]]<br />[[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]] (United States)
	\|released = ~~'''France''':<br>~~{{film date\|1991\|09\|18}}<br~~>'''United Kingdom''':<br~~>{{film date\|1992\|01\|17}}~~<br>'''~~United ~~States''':~~<br>{{film date\|1992\|02\|05}}		\|released = {{film date\|1991\|09\|18}} (France)<br />{{film date\|1992\|01\|17}} (United Kingdom)<br />{{film date\|1992\|02\|05}} (United States)
	\|runtime = 118 minutes		\|runtime = 118 minutes
	\|country = United Kingdom<br>United States		\|country = United Kingdom<br />United States
	\|language = English		\|language = English
	\|budget = $8 million		\|budget = $5 million<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59326-MISSISSIPPI-MASALA\|title = AFI\|Catalog}}</ref>
	\|gross = $7,~~308~~,~~786~~		\|gross = $7,332,515<ref name="BOM">{{Cite Box Office Mojo\|id=3225125633 \|title=Mississippi Masala (2022)\|access-date=May 13, 2022}}</ref>
	}}		}}
	'''''Mississippi Masala''''' is a 1991 [[Romance film\|romantic]] [[drama]] film directed by [[Mira Nair]], based upon a screenplay by [[Sooni Taraporevala]], starring [[Denzel Washington]], [[Sarita Choudhury]], and [[Roshan Seth]]. Set primarily in rural [[Mississippi]], the film explores interracial romance between [[African American]]s and [[Indian American]]s in the United States.

	It was released in [[France]] on 18 September 1991, in the [[United Kingdom]] on 17 January 1992 and in the U.S. on 5 February 1992. The film grossed $7,~~308~~,~~786~~ [[United States dollar\|USD]] at the box office.		'''''Mississippi Masala''''' is a 1991 [[Romance film\|romantic]] [[drama film]] directed by [[Mira Nair]], based upon a screenplay by [[Sooni Taraporevala]], starring [[Denzel Washington]], [[Sarita Choudhury]], and [[Roshan Seth]]. Set primarily in rural [[Mississippi]], the film explores interracial romance between [[African American]]s and [[Indian American]]s.

			It was released in France on 18 September 1991, in the United Kingdom on 17 January 1992 and in the U.S. on 5 February 1992. The film grossed $7,332,515 [[United States dollar\|USD]] at the box office.

	==Plot==		==Plot==

	In 1972, dictator [[Idi Amin]] enacts ~~the~~ policy of ~~the~~ forceful [[expulsion ~~of Asians from Uganda\|removal~~ of Asians from Uganda]]. Jay ([[Roshan Seth]]) his wife, Kinnu ([[Sharmila Tagore]]), and their daughter, Mina ([[Sarita Choudhury]]), a family of ~~third-generation~~ [[Indians in Uganda\|Ugandan Indians]] residing in [[Kampala]] reluctantly and tearfully leave their home behind and relocate. After spending a few years in [[England]], ~~Jay, Kinnu, and Mina~~ settle in [[Greenwood, ~~Mississippi\|Greenwood]], [[~~Mississippi]] to live with family members who own a chain of motels there. Despite the passage of time, Jay is unable to come to terms with his sudden departure from his home country, and cannot fully embrace the American lifestyle. He dreams of one day returning with his family to Kampala. The effects of Amin's dictatorship have caused Jay to become distrustful towards black people.		In 1972, dictator [[Idi Amin]] enacts a policy of forceful [[expulsion of Asians from Uganda]]. Jay ([[Roshan Seth]]), his wife Kinnu ([[Sharmila Tagore]]), and their daughter Mina ([[Sarita Choudhury]]), a family of [[Indians in Uganda\|Ugandan Indians]] residing in [[Kampala]] reluctantly and tearfully leave their home behind and relocate. After spending a few years in England, the family settle in [[Greenwood, Mississippi]] to live with family members who own a chain of motels there. Despite the passage of time, Jay is unable to come to terms with his sudden departure from his home country, and cannot fully embrace the American lifestyle. He dreams of one day returning with his family to Kampala. The effects of Amin's dictatorship have caused Jay to become distrustful towards black people.

	Mina, on the other hand, has fully assimilated to the American culture and has a diverse group of friends. She feels stifled by her parents' wish to only associate with members of their own community. She falls in love with Demetrius ([[Denzel Washington]]), a local [[African American]] self-employed carpet cleaner. Mina is aware that her parents will not approve and keeps the relationship somewhat secret. The pair decide to spend a romantic clandestine weekend together in [[Biloxi, Mississippi\|Biloxi]], where they are spotted by members of the Indian community, and the gossip begins to spread. Jay is outraged and ashamed, and forbids Mina from ever seeing Demetrius again. Mina also faces both subtle and outright dislike from ~~the black~~ community. Demetrius confronts Jay, who reveals his experiences and racist treatment in Uganda, causing Demetrius to call out Jay on his hypocrisy. Ultimately, the two families cannot fully come to terms with the interracial pair, who flee the state together in Demetrius's van.		Mina, on the other hand, has fully assimilated to the American culture and has a diverse group of friends. She feels stifled by her parents' wish to only associate with members of their own community. She falls in love with Demetrius ([[Denzel Washington]]), a local [[African American]] self-employed carpet cleaner. Mina is aware that her parents will not approve and keeps the relationship somewhat secret. The pair decide to spend a romantic clandestine weekend together in [[Biloxi, Mississippi\|Biloxi]], where they are spotted by members of the Indian community, and the gossip begins to spread. Jay is outraged and ashamed, and forbids Mina from ever seeing Demetrius again. Mina also faces both subtle and outright dislike from Demetrius' community. Demetrius confronts Jay, who reveals his experiences and racist treatment in Uganda, causing Demetrius to call out Jay on his hypocrisy. Ultimately, the two families cannot fully come to terms with the interracial pair, who flee the state together in Demetrius's van.

	Jay's wish finally becomes reality when he travels to Kampala to attend a court proceeding on the disposition of his previously confiscated house. While in the country however, he sees how much it has changed and realises that he no longer identifies with the land of his birth. Jay returns to America and relinquishes his long-nurtured dream of returning to [[Uganda]], the place he considered home.		Jay's wish finally becomes reality when he travels to Kampala to attend a court proceeding on the disposition of his previously confiscated house. While in the country however, he sees how much it has changed and realises that he no longer identifies with the land of his birth. Jay returns to America and relinquishes his long-nurtured dream of returning to Uganda, the place he considered home.

	==Cast==		==Cast==
	* [[Denzel Washington]] – Demetrius Williams		* [[Denzel Washington]] – Demetrius Williams
	* [[Sarita Choudhury]] – Mina		* [[Sarita Choudhury]] – Mina
	**[[Sahira Nair]] – Young Mina		**Sahira Nair – Young Mina
	* [[Roshan Seth]] – Jay		* [[Roshan Seth]] – Jay
	* [[Sharmila Tagore]] – Kinnu		* [[Sharmila Tagore]] – Kinnu
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	* [[Yvette Hawkins]] – Aunt Rose		* [[Yvette Hawkins]] – Aunt Rose
	* [[Anjan Srivastav]] – Jammubhai (as Anjan Srivastava)		* [[Anjan Srivastav]] – Jammubhai (as Anjan Srivastava)
			* Natalie Oliver-Atherton – Alicia LeShay (as Natalie Oliver)
	* [[Mira Nair]] – Gossip 1		* [[Mira Nair]] – Gossip 1
	* [[Rajika Puri]] – Gossip 2		* [[Rajika Puri]] – Gossip 2
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	==Production==		==Production==
	The script was written in Brooklyn, New York, after research by Nair, Taraporevala, and their team in Mississippi and Kampala. While doing research in Mississippi, Nair met a carpet cleaner named Demetrius and decided to model the main character after him. [[Ben Kingsley]] was originally cast in the role of Mina's father, but he eventually withdrew from the project, prompting the original backers of the film to pull out. Nair was able to gain new funding after Denzel Washington was chosen for the role of Demetrius. She later mentioned she faced substantial pressure from potential backers to select white leads rather than Indians or African Americans.<ref name=muir/> The Mississippi-based scenes were filmed in Mississippi, in the towns of [[Greenwood, Mississippi\|Greenwood]], [[Grenada, Mississippi\|Grenada]], [[Biloxi]], and [[Ocean Springs, Mississippi\|Ocean Springs]]. The Uganda scenes were filmed in [[Kampala, Uganda]], including in Nair's home.<ref name=muir>{{cite book\|last=Muir\|first=John Kenneth\|title=Mercy in her eyes: the films of Mira Nair\|year=2006\|publisher=Hal Leonard\|isbn=1-55783-649-3\|pages=71–106\|chapter=Mississippi Masala (1991) and The Perez Family (1995)}}</ref>		The script was written in Brooklyn, New York, after research by Nair, Taraporevala, and their team in Mississippi and Kampala. While doing research in Mississippi, Nair met a carpet cleaner named Demetrius and decided to model the main character after him. [[Ben Kingsley]] was originally cast in the role of Mina's father, but he eventually withdrew from the project, prompting the original backers of the film to pull out. Nair was able to gain new funding after Denzel Washington was chosen for the role of Demetrius. She later mentioned she faced substantial pressure from potential backers to select white leads rather than Indians or African Americans.<ref name=muir/> The Mississippi-based scenes were filmed in Mississippi, in the towns of [[Greenwood, Mississippi\|Greenwood]], [[Grenada, Mississippi\|Grenada]], [[Biloxi]], and [[Ocean Springs, Mississippi\|Ocean Springs]]. The Uganda scenes were filmed in [[Kampala, Uganda]], including in Nair's home.<ref name=muir>{{cite book\|last=Muir\|first=John Kenneth\|title=Mercy in her eyes: the films of Mira Nair\|year=2006\|publisher=Hal Leonard\|isbn=1-55783-649-3\|pages=71–106\|chapter=Mississippi Masala (1991) and The Perez Family (1995)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/12/entertainment/mississippi-masala-mira-nair-rerelease-legacy-cec/index.html\|title='Mississippi Masala' was released 30 years ago. Here's how it still resonates with audiences today\|author=Leah Asmelash\|website=CNN}}</ref>

	==Reception==		==Reception==

	It received ~~an 83~~% fresh rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] from 23 reviews.<ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mississippi_masala~~/ Rotten Tomatoes review]~~</ref>		The film was positively received by critics. It received a 92% fresh rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] from 71 reviews with the consensus: "Sarita Choudhury and Denzel Washington’s romantic chemistry lights up the screen in ''Mississippi Masala'', Mira Nair’s observant and sexy tale of cultures clashing."<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mississippi_masala\|title=Mississippi Masala\|via=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref>

	==Awards and honors==		==Awards and honors==
	* 1993 [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture]] – [[Denzel Washington]]		* 1993 [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture]] – [[Denzel Washington]]
	* 1991 [[São Paulo International Film Festival]] – Mira Nair, Critics Special Award		* 1991 [[São Paulo International Film Festival]] – Mira Nair, Critics Special Award
	* 1991 [[48th Venice International Film Festival]] – [[Golden Osella#Best Original Screenplay\|Golden Osella Best Original Screenplay]] – ~~Mira Nair and~~ Sooni Taraporevala; Golden Ciak/Best Film – Mira Nair		* 1991 [[48th Venice International Film Festival]] – [[Golden Osella#Best Original Screenplay\|Golden Osella Best Original Screenplay]] – Sooni Taraporevala; Golden Ciak/Best Film – Mira Nair

	The film is recognized by [[American Film Institute]] in these lists:		The film is recognized by [[American Film Institute]] in these lists:
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	[[Category:1991 films]]		[[Category:1991 films]]
	[[Category:1990s romantic drama films]]		[[Category:1990s romantic drama films]]
	~~[[Category:American films]]~~
	[[Category:American romantic drama films]]		[[Category:American romantic drama films]]
	[[Category:Indian films]]		[[Category:Indian films]]
	[[Category:Indian-American films]]		[[Category:Indian-American films]]
	[[Category:British Indian films]]		[[Category:British Indian films]]
	[[Category:English-language films]]		[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
	[[Category:Films about Indian weddings]]		[[Category:Films about Indian weddings]]
	[[Category:Films about interracial romance]]		[[Category:Films about interracial romance]]

imported>Llogan79425: /* Reception */

2021-06-15T14:58:24Z

Reception

New page

{{Short description|1991 film by Mira Nair}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
|name = Mississippi Masala
|image = Mississippi_masala.jpg
|caption = Theatrical release poster
|director = [[Mira Nair]]
|producer = Mira Nair [[SCS Films|Studio Canal Souss]]
|writer = [[Sooni Taraporevala]]
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[Denzel Washington]]
* [[Sarita Choudhury]]
* [[Roshan Seth]]
* [[Charles S. Dutton]]
* [[Joe Seneca]]}}
|music = [[L. Subramaniam]]
|cinematography = Edward Lachman
|editing = Roberto Silvi
|distributor = [[Cinecom Pictures]] [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]] (USA)
|released = '''France''': {{film date|1991|09|18}} '''United Kingdom''': {{film date|1992|01|17}} '''United States''': {{film date|1992|02|05}}
|runtime = 118 minutes
|country = United Kingdom United States
|language = English
|budget = $8 million
|gross = $7,308,786
}}
'''''Mississippi Masala''''' is a 1991 [[Romance film|romantic]] [[drama]] film directed by [[Mira Nair]], based upon a screenplay by [[Sooni Taraporevala]], starring [[Denzel Washington]], [[Sarita Choudhury]], and [[Roshan Seth]]. Set primarily in rural [[Mississippi]], the film explores interracial romance between [[African American]]s and [[Indian American]]s in the United States.

It was released in [[France]] on 18 September 1991, in the [[United Kingdom]] on 17 January 1992 and in the U.S. on 5 February 1992. The film grossed $7,308,786 [[United States dollar|USD]] at the box office.

==Plot==

In 1972, dictator [[Idi Amin]] enacts the policy of the forceful [[expulsion of Asians from Uganda|removal of Asians from Uganda]]. Jay ([[Roshan Seth]]) his wife, Kinnu ([[Sharmila Tagore]]), and their daughter, Mina ([[Sarita Choudhury]]), a family of third-generation [[Indians in Uganda|Ugandan Indians]] residing in [[Kampala]] reluctantly and tearfully leave their home behind and relocate. After spending a few years in [[England]], Jay, Kinnu, and Mina settle in [[Greenwood, Mississippi|Greenwood]], [[Mississippi]] to live with family members who own a chain of motels there. Despite the passage of time, Jay is unable to come to terms with his sudden departure from his home country, and cannot fully embrace the American lifestyle. He dreams of one day returning with his family to Kampala. The effects of Amin's dictatorship have caused Jay to become distrustful towards black people.

Mina, on the other hand, has fully assimilated to the American culture and has a diverse group of friends. She feels stifled by her parents' wish to only associate with members of their own community. She falls in love with Demetrius ([[Denzel Washington]]), a local [[African American]] self-employed carpet cleaner. Mina is aware that her parents will not approve and keeps the relationship somewhat secret. The pair decide to spend a romantic clandestine weekend together in [[Biloxi, Mississippi|Biloxi]], where they are spotted by members of the Indian community, and the gossip begins to spread. Jay is outraged and ashamed, and forbids Mina from ever seeing Demetrius again. Mina also faces both subtle and outright dislike from the black community. Demetrius confronts Jay, who reveals his experiences and racist treatment in Uganda, causing Demetrius to call out Jay on his hypocrisy. Ultimately, the two families cannot fully come to terms with the interracial pair, who flee the state together in Demetrius's van.

Jay's wish finally becomes reality when he travels to Kampala to attend a court proceeding on the disposition of his previously confiscated house. While in the country however, he sees how much it has changed and realises that he no longer identifies with the land of his birth. Jay returns to America and relinquishes his long-nurtured dream of returning to [[Uganda]], the place he considered home.

==Cast==
* [[Denzel Washington]] – Demetrius Williams
* [[Sarita Choudhury]] – Mina
**[[Sahira Nair]] – Young Mina
* [[Roshan Seth]] – Jay
* [[Sharmila Tagore]] – Kinnu
* [[Charles S. Dutton]] – Tyrone Williams
* [[Joe Seneca]] – Williben Williams
* [[Ranjit Chowdhry]] – Anil
* [[Joseph Olita]] – [[Idi Amin]]
* [[Mohan Gokhale]] – Pontiac
* [[Mohan Agashe]] – Kanti Napkin
* [[Tico Wells]] – Dexter Williams
* [[Yvette Hawkins]] – Aunt Rose
* [[Anjan Srivastav]] – Jammubhai (as Anjan Srivastava)
* [[Mira Nair]] – Gossip 1
* [[Rajika Puri]] – Gossip 2
* [[Richard Crick]] – Hotel Customer
* [[Michael Wawuyo]] - Soldier on Bus

==Production==
The script was written in Brooklyn, New York, after research by Nair, Taraporevala, and their team in Mississippi and Kampala. While doing research in Mississippi, Nair met a carpet cleaner named Demetrius and decided to model the main character after him. [[Ben Kingsley]] was originally cast in the role of Mina's father, but he eventually withdrew from the project, prompting the original backers of the film to pull out. Nair was able to gain new funding after Denzel Washington was chosen for the role of Demetrius. She later mentioned she faced substantial pressure from potential backers to select white leads rather than Indians or African Americans.<ref name=muir/> The Mississippi-based scenes were filmed in Mississippi, in the towns of [[Greenwood, Mississippi|Greenwood]], [[Grenada, Mississippi|Grenada]], [[Biloxi]], and [[Ocean Springs, Mississippi|Ocean Springs]]. The Uganda scenes were filmed in [[Kampala, Uganda]], including in Nair's home.<ref name=muir>{{cite book|last=Muir|first=John Kenneth|title=Mercy in her eyes: the films of Mira Nair|year=2006|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=1-55783-649-3|pages=71–106|chapter=Mississippi Masala (1991) and The Perez Family (1995)}}</ref>

==Reception==

It received an 83% fresh rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] from 23 reviews.<ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mississippi_masala/ Rotten Tomatoes review]</ref>

==Awards and honors==
* 1993 [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture]] – [[Denzel Washington]]
* 1991 [[São Paulo International Film Festival]] – Mira Nair, Critics Special Award
* 1991 [[48th Venice International Film Festival]] – [[Golden Osella#Best Original Screenplay|Golden Osella Best Original Screenplay]] – Mira Nair and Sooni Taraporevala; Golden Ciak/Best Film – Mira Nair

The film is recognized by [[American Film Institute]] in these lists:
* 2002: [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions]] – Nominated<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/passions400.pdf |title=AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions Nominees |access-date=2016-08-19}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=0102456|title=Mississippi Masala}}
*[https://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi513212697?ref_=ttvi_vi_imdb_2 Official trailer]
*{{Amg movie|32926}}
*{{mojo title|id=mississippimasala|title=Mississippi Masala}}
*{{rotten-tomatoes|id=mississippi_masala|title=Mississippi Masala}}
*{{tcmdb title|83658}}

{{Mira Nair}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mississippi Masala}}
[[Category:1991 films]]
[[Category:1990s romantic drama films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian-American films]]
[[Category:British Indian films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films about Indian weddings]]
[[Category:Films about interracial romance]]
[[Category:Films about racism]]
[[Category:Films about weddings]]
[[Category:Films about women in the Indian diaspora]]
[[Category:Films set in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Films shot in Uganda]]
[[Category:Films set in Uganda]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mira Nair]]
[[Category:Films produced by Michael Nozik]]
[[Category:Films set in 1972]]
[[Category:Films set in 1990]]
[[Category:The Samuel Goldwyn Company films]]
[[Category:African-American films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Idi Amin]]
[[Category:Films about forced migration]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Sooni Taraporevala]]
[[Category:Mirabai Films films]]
[[Category:Films scored by L. Subramaniam]]
[[Category:1991 drama films]]
[[Category:1992 drama films]]
[[Category:1992 films]]