Water (2005 film) - Revision history

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	'''''Water''''' is a 2005 [[Drama (film and television)\|drama film]] written and directed by [[Deepa Mehta]], with screenplay by [[Anurag Kashyap]]. It is set in 1938 and explores the lives of [[widow]]s at an [[ashram]] in [[Varanasi]], India. The film is also the third and final instalment of Mehta's ''[[Elements trilogy]]''. It was preceded by ''[[Fire (1996 film)\|Fire]]'' (1996) and ''[[Earth (1998 film)\|Earth]]'' (1998). Author [[Bapsi Sidhwa]] wrote the 2006 novel based upon the film, ''[[Water (novel)\|Water: A Novel]]'', published by Milkweed Press. Sidhwa's earlier novel, ''[[Cracking India]]'' was the basis for ''[[Earth (1998 film)\|Earth]]'', the second film in the trilogy.		'''''Water''''' is a 2005 [[Drama (film and television)\|drama film]] written and directed by [[Deepa Mehta]], with screenplay by [[Anurag Kashyap]]. It is set in 1938 and explores the lives of [[widow]]s at an [[ashram]] in [[Varanasi]], India. The film is also the third and final instalment of Mehta's ''[[Elements trilogy]]''. It was preceded by ''[[Fire (1996 film)\|Fire]]'' (1996) and ''[[Earth (1998 film)\|Earth]]'' (1998). Author [[Bapsi Sidhwa]] wrote the 2006 novel based upon the film, ''[[Water (novel)\|Water: A Novel]]'', published by Milkweed Press. Sidhwa's earlier novel, ''[[Cracking India]]'' was the basis for ''[[Earth (1998 film)\|Earth]]'', the second film in the trilogy.

	''Water'' is a dark introspect into the tales of rural Indian widows in the 1940s and covers controversial subjects such as misogyny and ostracism.<ref>{{Cite web \|title='Water' at Majestic Cinema \|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060604/tv/WateratMC.html \|access-date=30 November 2019 \|publisher=Sarasaviya}}</ref> The film premiered at the 2005 [[Toronto International Film Festival]], where it was honoured with the Opening Night Gala, and was released across Canada in November of that year.<ref>{{~~Cite~~ news \|date=2005-09-09 \|title=Water opens Toronto Film Festival \|language=en-GB \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4228552.stm \|access-date=2018-09-30}}</ref> It was first released in India on 9 March 2007.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/09/arts/AS-A-E-MOV-India-Widow-Film.php Oscar-nominated film "Water" released in India 7 years after protests shut down filming ~~– International Herald Tribune<!~~-~~- Bot generated title -->]~~</ref>		''Water'' is a dark introspect into the tales of rural Indian widows in the 1940s and covers controversial subjects such as misogyny and ostracism.<ref>{{Cite web \|title='Water' at Majestic Cinema \|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060604/tv/WateratMC.html \|access-date=30 November 2019 \|publisher=Sarasaviya}}</ref> The film premiered at the 2005 [[Toronto International Film Festival]], where it was honoured with the Opening Night Gala, and was released across Canada in November of that year.<ref>{{cite news \|date=2005-09-09 \|title=Water opens Toronto Film Festival \|language=en-GB \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4228552.stm \|access-date=2018-09-30}}</ref> It was first released in India on 9 March 2007.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/09/arts/AS-A-E-MOV-India-Widow-Film.php\|title=Oscar-nominated film "Water" released in India 7 years after protests shut down filming\|website=Iht.com\|access-date=28 November 2021}}</ref>

	The film stars [[Seema Biswas]], [[Lisa Ray]], [[John Abraham (actor)\|John Abraham]] and [[Sarala Kariyawasam]] in pivotal roles and [[Manorama (Hindi actress)\|Manorama]], [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]], [[Waheeda Rehman]], [[Raghuvir Yadav]] and [[Vinay Pathak]] in supporting roles. Featured songs for the film were composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], with lyrics by [[Sukhwinder Singh]] and Raqeeb Alam. After Rahman quit the film following nationwide controversy,<ref>https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jan/30rahman.htm</ref> the background score was composed by [[Mychael Danna]], although the songs which Rahman had composed before opting out were retained.		The film stars [[Seema Biswas]], [[Lisa Ray]], [[John Abraham (actor)\|John Abraham]] and [[Sarala Kariyawasam]] in pivotal roles and [[Manorama (Hindi actress)\|Manorama]], [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]], [[Waheeda Rehman]], [[Raghuvir Yadav]] and [[Vinay Pathak]] in supporting roles. Featured songs for the film were composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], with lyrics by [[Sukhwinder Singh]] and Raqeeb Alam. After Rahman quit the film following nationwide controversy,<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jan/30rahman.htm\|title=Rahman ready for Lord of the Rings\|website=Rediff.com\|access-date=28 November 2021}}</ref> the background score was composed by [[Mychael Danna]], although the songs which Rahman had composed before opting out were retained.

	In 2008, inspired by the film, [[Dilip Mehta]] directed a documentary, ''[[The Forgotten Woman]]'' about widows in India. The film was also written by Deepa Mehta.<ref>{{~~Cite~~ news \|last=Nathan Lee \|date=7 August 2008 \|title=Stigmatized by Society \|work=[[The New York Times]] \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/movies/08forg.html?_r=0 \|access-date=11 February 2014}}</ref>		In 2008, inspired by the film, [[Dilip Mehta]] directed a documentary, ''[[The Forgotten Woman]]'' about widows in India. The film was also written by Deepa Mehta.<ref>{{cite news \|last=Nathan Lee \|date=7 August 2008 \|title=Stigmatized by Society \|work=[[The New York Times]] \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/movies/08forg.html?_r=0 \|access-date=11 February 2014}}</ref>

	== Plot ==		== Plot ==

	The film is set in 1938 when India was still [[British Empire in India\|under British occupation]]. [[Child marriage]] was common practice, and widows had a diminished position in society.		The film is set in 1938 when India was still [[British Empire in India\|under British occupation]]. [[Child marriage]] was common practice, and widows had a diminished position in society.

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	\| [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Achievement in Music – Original Score\|Best Original Score]] \|\| [[Mychael Danna]] \|\| {{won}}		\| [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Achievement in Music – Original Score\|Best Original Score]] \|\| [[Mychael Danna]] \|\| {{won}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[2006 Bangkok International Film Festival\|17 February 2006]] \|\| [[Bangkok International Film Festival]] \|\| [[Bangkok International Film Festival#Golden Kinnaree Awards\|Best Golden Kinnaree Film]]<ref name="note5">{{~~Cite~~ news \|last=Patrick Frater \|date=26 February 2006 \|title=Water' sweeps over Bangkok fest \|work=Variety \|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117938881?categoryId=1061&cs=1 \|access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref> \|\| Deepa Mehta \|\| {{won}}		\| [[2006 Bangkok International Film Festival\|17 February 2006]] \|\| [[Bangkok International Film Festival]] \|\| [[Bangkok International Film Festival#Golden Kinnaree Awards\|Best Golden Kinnaree Film]]<ref name="note5">{{cite news \|last=Patrick Frater \|date=26 February 2006 \|title=Water' sweeps over Bangkok fest \|work=Variety \|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117938881?categoryId=1061&cs=1 \|access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref> \|\| Deepa Mehta \|\| {{won}}
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[12th Critics' Choice Awards\|20 January 2007]] \|\| [[Broadcast Film Critics Association\|Broadcast Film Critics]] \|\| Best Foreign Language Film \|\| Deepa Mehta \|\|{{nom}}		\| [[12th Critics' Choice Awards\|20 January 2007]] \|\| [[Broadcast Film Critics Association\|Broadcast Film Critics]] \|\| Best Foreign Language Film \|\| Deepa Mehta \|\|{{nom}}
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	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	Jeannette Catsoulis of ''[[The New York Times]]'' selected ''Water'' as NYT Critics' Pick, calling it "exquisite": "Serene on the surface yet roiling underneath, the film neatly parallels the plight of widows under Hindu fundamentalism to that of India under British colonialism."<ref>{{~~Cite~~ news \|last=Catsoulis \|first=Jeannette \|date=28 April 2006 \|title=Movie Review: Water (2005): NYT Critics' Pick \|~~work~~=New York Times \|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/movies/28wate.html}}</ref>		Jeannette Catsoulis of ''[[The New York Times]]'' selected ''Water'' as NYT Critics' Pick, calling it "exquisite": "Serene on the surface yet roiling underneath, the film neatly parallels the plight of widows under Hindu fundamentalism to that of India under British colonialism."<ref>{{cite news \|last=Catsoulis \|first=Jeannette \|date=28 April 2006 \|title=Movie Review: Water (2005): NYT Critics' Pick \|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] \|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/movies/28wate.html}}</ref>

	''Water'' received mostly positive reviews. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 90% based on reviews from 94 critics, with an average rating of 7.63 out of 10.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=25 September 2006 \|title=Water \|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/water \|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> The site's consensus is that "This compassionate work of social criticism is also luminous, due to both its lyrical imagery and cast." On [[Metacritic]] the film has a [[weighted mean\|weighted average]] score of 77 out of 100, based on 25 critics reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>https://www.metacritic.com/movie/water</ref>		''Water'' received mostly positive reviews. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 90% based on reviews from 94 critics, with an average rating of 7.63 out of 10.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=25 September 2006 \|title=Water \|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/water \|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> The site's consensus is that "This compassionate work of social criticism is also luminous, due to both its lyrical imagery and cast." On [[Metacritic]] the film has a [[weighted mean\|weighted average]] score of 77 out of 100, based on 25 critics reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/water\|title=Water\|access-date=28 November 2021\|website=Metacritic.com}}</ref>

	[[Roger Ebert]] of ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' said "The film is lovely in the way [[Satyajit Ray]]'s films are lovely and the best elements of Water involve the young girl and the experiences seen through her eyes. I would have been content if the entire film had been her story" and gave it three stars out of four.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=4 May 2006 \|title=Water-2006 \|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/water-2006 \|access-date=31 May 2006 \|website=Roger Ebert \|publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref> [[Carrie Rickey]] of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' also praises Mehta's work on the trilogy saying that "Profound, passionate and overflowing with incomparable beauty, Water, like the prior two films in director Deepa Mehta's "Elements" trilogy, celebrates the lives of women who resist marginalisation by Indian society."{{Citation needed\|date=October 2019}}		[[Roger Ebert]] of ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' said "The film is lovely in the way [[Satyajit Ray]]'s films are lovely and the best elements of Water involve the young girl and the experiences seen through her eyes. I would have been content if the entire film had been her story" and gave it three stars out of four.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=4 May 2006 \|title=Water-2006 \|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/water-2006 \|access-date=31 May 2006 \|website=Roger Ebert \|publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref> [[Carrie Rickey]] of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' also praises Mehta's work on the trilogy saying that "Profound, passionate and overflowing with incomparable beauty, Water, like the prior two films in director Deepa Mehta's "Elements" trilogy, celebrates the lives of women who resist marginalisation by Indian society."{{Citation needed\|date=October 2019}}
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	== See also ==		== See also ==
	* [[List of Canadian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]]		* [[List of Canadian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]]
			* [[List of artistic depictions of Mahatma Gandhi]]

	== References ==		== References ==
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	[[Category:Films directed by Deepa Mehta]]		[[Category:Films directed by Deepa Mehta]]
	[[Category:Films scored by Mychael Danna]]		[[Category:Films scored by Mychael Danna]]
			[[Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman]]
	[[Category:Films with screenplays by Anurag Kashyap]]		[[Category:Films with screenplays by Anurag Kashyap]]

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2021-08-12T04:33:27Z

Created page with "{{short description|2005 film by Deepa Mehta}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}} {{Infobox film | name = Water | image = Water (..."

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{{short description|2005 film by Deepa Mehta}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Water
| image = Water (2005 film) cover art.jpg
| caption = Film poster
| director = [[Deepa Mehta]]
| producer = [[David Hamilton (Canadian producer)|David Hamilton]]
| screenplay = [[Anurag Kashyap]]
| story = Deepa Mehta
| starring = [[Seema Biswas]] [[Lisa Ray]] [[John Abraham (actor)|John Abraham]] [[Sarala Kariyawasam]] [[Manorama (Hindi actress)|Manorama]]
| music = [[Mychael Danna]] '''Songs:''' [[A. R. Rahman]]
| cinematography = [[Giles Nuttgens]]
| editing = Colin Monie
| studio = [[David Hamilton (Canadian producer)|David Hamilton Productions]]
| distributor = [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]] {{small|(US)}} [[Mongrel Media]] {{small|(Canada)}} B.R. Films {{small|(India)}}
| released = {{Film date|2005|9|9|[[Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto]]|df=y}}
| runtime = 114 minutes
| country = Canada United States India
| language = Hindi<ref>The film was shot twice with the same (bilingual) actors, once in Hindi, once in English.</ref> English
| budget =
| gross = $10.4 million<ref name="mojo">{{mojo title|id=water06|title=Water}}. {{Retrieved|access-date=31 October 2009}}</ref>
}}
'''''Water''''' is a 2005 [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] written and directed by [[Deepa Mehta]], with screenplay by [[Anurag Kashyap]]. It is set in 1938 and explores the lives of [[widow]]s at an [[ashram]] in [[Varanasi]], India. The film is also the third and final instalment of Mehta's ''[[Elements trilogy]]''. It was preceded by ''[[Fire (1996 film)|Fire]]'' (1996) and ''[[Earth (1998 film)|Earth]]'' (1998). Author [[Bapsi Sidhwa]] wrote the 2006 novel based upon the film, ''[[Water (novel)|Water: A Novel]]'', published by Milkweed Press. Sidhwa's earlier novel, ''[[Cracking India]]'' was the basis for ''[[Earth (1998 film)|Earth]]'', the second film in the trilogy.

''Water'' is a dark introspect into the tales of rural Indian widows in the 1940s and covers controversial subjects such as misogyny and ostracism.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Water' at Majestic Cinema |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060604/tv/WateratMC.html |access-date=30 November 2019 |publisher=Sarasaviya}}</ref> The film premiered at the 2005 [[Toronto International Film Festival]], where it was honoured with the Opening Night Gala, and was released across Canada in November of that year.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-09-09 |title=Water opens Toronto Film Festival |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4228552.stm |access-date=2018-09-30}}</ref> It was first released in India on 9 March 2007.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/09/arts/AS-A-E-MOV-India-Widow-Film.php Oscar-nominated film "Water" released in India 7 years after protests shut down filming – International Herald Tribune]</ref>

The film stars [[Seema Biswas]], [[Lisa Ray]], [[John Abraham (actor)|John Abraham]] and [[Sarala Kariyawasam]] in pivotal roles and [[Manorama (Hindi actress)|Manorama]], [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]], [[Waheeda Rehman]], [[Raghuvir Yadav]] and [[Vinay Pathak]] in supporting roles. Featured songs for the film were composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], with lyrics by [[Sukhwinder Singh]] and Raqeeb Alam. After Rahman quit the film following nationwide controversy,<ref>https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jan/30rahman.htm</ref> the background score was composed by [[Mychael Danna]], although the songs which Rahman had composed before opting out were retained.

In 2008, inspired by the film, [[Dilip Mehta]] directed a documentary, ''[[The Forgotten Woman]]'' about widows in India. The film was also written by Deepa Mehta.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nathan Lee |date=7 August 2008 |title=Stigmatized by Society |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/movies/08forg.html?_r=0 |access-date=11 February 2014}}</ref>

== Plot ==

The film is set in 1938 when India was still [[British Empire in India|under British occupation]]. [[Child marriage]] was common practice, and widows had a diminished position in society.

Chuyia ([[Sarala Kariyawasam]]) is an eight-year-old girl, whose husband suddenly dies. In keeping with traditions of widowhood, she is dressed in a white [[sari]], her head is shaven and she is left in an [[ashram]], to spend the rest of her life in renunciation. There are fourteen women who live in the dilapidated house, sent there to expiate bad [[karma]], as well as to relieve their families of the financial and emotional burdens of caring for widows. The ashram is ruled by Madhumati ([[Manorama (Hindi actress)|Manorama]]), a pompous lady in her 70s. Her only friend is the pimp, Gulabi ([[Raghuvir Yadav]]), a [[Hijra (South Asia)|hijra]] who keeps Madhumati supplied with [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]]. The two also have a side business: Gulabi helps Madhumati prostitute Kalyani ([[Lisa Ray]]), a beautiful young widow, by ferrying her across [[the Ganges]] to customers. Kalyani was forced into prostitution as a teenager to support the ashram.

Shakuntala ([[Seema Biswas]]) is perhaps the most enigmatic of the women. Attractive, witty and sharp, she is also one of the few widows who can read. She exudes enough anger that even Madhumati leaves her alone. Shakuntala is caught between being a God-fearing, devout Hindu, and her hatred of being a widow. She seeks the counsel of Sadananda ([[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]]), a priest, who makes her aware of her unjust and unholy situation. She becomes attached to Chuyia upon her arrival at the ashram.

Chuyia is convinced that her stay is a temporary one and that her mother will come to take her away but quickly adapts to her new life. She befriends Kalyani, and witnesses Kalyani's budding romance with Narayan ([[John Abraham (actor)|John Abraham]]), a charming upper-class follower of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]. Despite her initial reluctance, Kalyani eventually buys into his dream of marriage and a new life in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]]. She agrees to go away with him.

Her plan is disrupted when Chuyia accidentally reveals their affair to Madhumati. Enraged at losing a source of income and afraid of the social disgrace, Madhumati locks Kalyani up. Much to everyone's surprise, the God-fearing Shakuntala lets Kalyani out to go meet Narayan, who ferries her across the river to take her to his home. However, when Kalyani recognizes Narayan's bungalow, she realizes that Narayan is the son of one of the men whom she has been pimped out to. In shock, she demands that he take her back. Narayan confronts his father, learning the reason for Kalyani's actions. Disgusted, he decides to walk out on his father and join [[Mahatma Gandhi]] ([[Mohan Jhangiani]]). He arrives at the ashram to take Kalyani with him, only to find that Kalyani has fatally drowned herself.

Madhumati sends Chuyia away to be prostituted as a replacement for Kalyani. Shakuntala finds out and tries to prevent the worst, but she is too late. When Shakuntala finds Chuyia, Chuyia is deeply traumatized and catatonic. Cradling Chuyia, Shakuntala spends the night on the shores of the river. Walking through town with Chuyia in her arms, she hears talk of Gandhi speaking at the train station, ready to leave town. She follows the crowd to receive his blessing. As the train departs, in an act of desperation Shakuntala runs alongside the train, asking people to take Chuyia with them. She spots Narayan on the train and hands Chuyia over to him. The train departs, carrying Chuyia away while leaving the teary-eyed Shakuntala behind.

== Cast ==
* [[Seema Biswas]] as Shakuntala/Gyanvati Twins double role
* [[Lisa Ray]] as Kalyani
* [[John Abraham (actor)|John Abraham]] as Narayan
* [[Waheeda Rehman]] as Bhagavati, Narayan's Mother
* [[Sarala Kariyawasam]] as Chuyia <ref>{{Cite web |title='Water' takes Sarala to international heights |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060604/tv/WatertakesSarala.html |access-date=30 November 2019 |publisher=Sarasaviya}}</ref>
* [[Buddhi Wickrama]] as Baba
* Ronica Sajnani as Kunti
* [[Manorama (Hindi actress)|Manorama]] as Madhumati
* Rishma Malik as Snehalata
* Vidula Javalgekar as Patiraji (auntie)
* [[Daya Alwis]] as Saduram
* [[Raghuvir Yadav]] as Gulabi
* Vinay Pathak as Rabindra
* [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]] as Sadananda
* [[Gerson Da Cunha]] as Seth Dwarkanath
* Mohan Jhangiani as [[Mahatma Gandhi]]
* [[Sanoja Bibile]] as Woman Bather

== Production ==
''Water'' is a co-production between Canada, India<ref>{{Cite web |title=Water |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/water/details |access-date=13 June 2019 |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> and the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Water (2005) |url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b84002117 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713033621/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b84002117 |archive-date=13 July 2012 |access-date=10 January 2016 |website=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> The film was shot twice with the same (bilingual) actors, once in Hindi, once in English.

== Release ==
The film debuted on 8 September 2005 at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] and opened in other theatres at the dates given below. After several controversies surrounding the film in India, the Indian censor boards cleared the film with a "U" certificate. It was released in [[India]] on 9 March 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 March 2007 |title=Deepa Mehta impresses with Water |url=http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2007/mar/09water.htm |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>

During Sri Lanka screening, the film collected Rs. 42 million for its 38 days screening.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Water' in a record flow |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060716/tv/tvp9.html |access-date=7 December 2017 |publisher=Sunday times}}</ref>

== Reception ==

=== Accolades ===
{{Clear}}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Date of ceremony
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Recipients
! scope="col" | Result
|-
| [[79th Academy Awards|25 February 2007]] || [[79th Academy Awards]] || [[List of Academy Award winners and nominees for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film (Canada)]] || [[Deepa Mehta]] || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="8"|[[26th Genie Awards|13 March 2006]]
| rowspan="8"|[[Genie Awards]] or [[Canadian Screen Awards]]
| [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Motion Picture|Best Motion Picture]] || [[David Hamilton (Canadian producer)|David Hamilton]] || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Achievement in Direction|Best Director]] || [[Deepa Mehta]] || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] || [[Seema Biswas]]<ref name="note4">{{Cite web |last=Utpal Borpujari |year=2005 |title=Seema Biswas wins top Canadian film award for Water |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar172006/update134002006317.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060317185740/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar172006/update134002006317.asp |archive-date=17 March 2006 |access-date=23 March 2006 |website=[[Deccan Herald]] |df=dmy}}</ref> || {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design|Best Art and Production Design]] || [[Dilip Mehta]] || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Achievement in Cinematography|Best Cinematography]] || [[Giles Nuttgens]] ||{{won}}
|-
| [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]] || Deepa Mehta || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Achievement in Editing|Best Film Editing]] || Colin Monie || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Achievement in Music – Original Score|Best Original Score]] || [[Mychael Danna]] || {{won}}
|-
| [[2006 Bangkok International Film Festival|17 February 2006]] || [[Bangkok International Film Festival]] || [[Bangkok International Film Festival#Golden Kinnaree Awards|Best Golden Kinnaree Film]]<ref name="note5">{{Cite news |last=Patrick Frater |date=26 February 2006 |title=Water' sweeps over Bangkok fest |work=Variety |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117938881?categoryId=1061&cs=1 |access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref> || Deepa Mehta || {{won}}
|-
| [[12th Critics' Choice Awards|20 January 2007]] || [[Broadcast Film Critics Association|Broadcast Film Critics]] || Best Foreign Language Film || Deepa Mehta ||{{nom}}
|-
| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards 2006|December 17, 2007]] || [[Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association]] || [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] || Deepa Mehta || {{nom}}
|-
| [[:fr:Nastri d'argento 2007|23 June 2007]] || [[Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists]] || [[Nastro d'Argento|Best Non-European Director]] || Deepa Mehta || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[National Board of Review Awards 2006|January 9, 2007]]
| rowspan="2"| [[National Board of Review]]
| [[National Board of Review Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Top 5 Foreign Language Films]]
| Deepa Mehta || {{won}}
|-
| [[National Board of Review#Award categories|NBR Freedom of Expression Awards]]
| Deepa Mehta (shared with [[Oliver Stone]] for [[World Trade Center (film)|World Trade Center]])||{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[New York Film Critics Online Awards 2006|December 11, 2006]]
| rowspan="2"| [[New York Film Critics Online]]
| Top 10 Films
| Deepa Mehta || {{won}}
|-
| NYFCO Humanitarian Award
| Deepa Mehta || {{won}}
|-
| [[Oslo Films from the South Festival|14 October 2006]]|| [[Oslo Films from the South Festival]] || [[Oslo Films from the South Festival|Best Silver Mirror Feature Film]] || Deepa Mehta || {{won}}
|-
| 20 March 2006|| [[San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival]] || Best Narrative Audience Award || Deepa Mehta || {{won}}
|-
| [[11th Satellite Awards|17 December 2006]] || [[Satellite Awards]] || [[Satellite Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]||Deepa Mehta || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Valladolid International Film Festival|21 October 2005]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Valladolid International Film Festival]]
| Best Youth Jury Film – In Competition
| Deepa Mehta || {{won}}
|-
| Best Golden Spike Film – In Competition
| Deepa Mehta || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2005|February 7, 2006]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Vancouver Film Critics Circle]]
| [[Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director|Best Canadian director]] || Deepa Mehta || {{won}}
|-
| [[Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in a Canadian Film|Best Canadian Actress]] || [[Lisa Ray]] || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[28th Young Artist Awards|10 March 2007]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Young Artist Awards]]
| [[Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film|Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film]] || [[Sarala Kariyawasam]] || {{won}}
|-
| [[Young Artist Award|Best International Family Feature Film]] || Deepa Mehta || {{won}}
|}

=== Critical response ===
The film received high praise from Kevin Thomas, writing in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'':
<blockquote>
For all her impassioned commitment as a filmmaker, Mehta never preaches but instead tells a story of intertwining strands in a wholly compelling manner. "Water," set in British occupied India of 1938, is as beautiful as it is harrowing, its idyllic setting beside the sacred Ganges River contrasting with the widows' oppressive existence as outcasts. The film seethes with anger over their plight yet never judges, and possesses a lyrical, poetical quality. Just like the Ganges, life goes on flowing, no matter what. Mehta sees her people in the round, entrapped and blinded by a cruel and outmoded custom dictated by ancient religious texts but sustained more often by a family's desire to relieve itself of the economic burden of supporting widows. As a result, she is able to inject considerable humour in her stunningly perceptive and beautifully structured narrative. "Water" emerges as a film of extraordinary richness and complexity.<ref>Thomas, Kevin (2006). [http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-water28apr28,0,2880216.story "Movie Review: 'Water'"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 28 April 2006. Retrieved 27 February 2010. {{dead link|date=October 2019}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Jeannette Catsoulis of ''[[The New York Times]]'' selected ''Water'' as NYT Critics' Pick, calling it "exquisite": "Serene on the surface yet roiling underneath, the film neatly parallels the plight of widows under Hindu fundamentalism to that of India under British colonialism."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Catsoulis |first=Jeannette |date=28 April 2006 |title=Movie Review: Water (2005): NYT Critics' Pick |work=New York Times |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/movies/28wate.html}}</ref>

''Water'' received mostly positive reviews. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 90% based on reviews from 94 critics, with an average rating of 7.63 out of 10.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2006 |title=Water |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/water |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> The site's consensus is that "This compassionate work of social criticism is also luminous, due to both its lyrical imagery and cast." On [[Metacritic]] the film has a [[weighted mean|weighted average]] score of 77 out of 100, based on 25 critics reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>https://www.metacritic.com/movie/water</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' said "The film is lovely in the way [[Satyajit Ray]]'s films are lovely and the best elements of Water involve the young girl and the experiences seen through her eyes. I would have been content if the entire film had been her story" and gave it three stars out of four.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 May 2006 |title=Water-2006 |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/water-2006 |access-date=31 May 2006 |website=Roger Ebert |publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref> [[Carrie Rickey]] of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' also praises Mehta's work on the trilogy saying that "Profound, passionate and overflowing with incomparable beauty, Water, like the prior two films in director Deepa Mehta's "Elements" trilogy, celebrates the lives of women who resist marginalisation by Indian society."{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

In December 2005, it was named to the [[Toronto International Film Festival]]'s annual Canada's Top Ten list of the year's best Canadian films.<ref>"Topping the list: Canada's cinematic achievements". ''[[National Post]]'', December 14, 2005.</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Main|Water (Soundtrack)}}

== Controversies ==
Mehta had originally intended to direct ''Water'' in February 2000, with the actors [[Shabana Azmi]], [[Nandita Das]] and [[Akshay Kumar]]. Her earlier film, ''[[Fire (1996 film)|Fire]]'', however, had previously attracted hostility from conservative right-wing organizations, which objected to her subject matter and portrayal of conservative households in a negative light. Protestors organised protests and attacks on cinemas that screened that film. The day before filming of ''Water'' was due to begin, the crew was informed that there were complications with their location permits for filming. The following day, they learned that 2,000 protesters had stormed the [[ghats]], destroying and burning the main film set and throwing the remnants into the [[Ganges]] in protest of what ultimately were revealed to be false accusations regarding the subject matter of the film.<ref name=note3 /> A right-wing politician [[Arun Pathak]] also organised a suicide protest to stop the film production.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 February 2000 |title='Water' shooting stopped again, Mehta 'asked to leave Varanasi' |url=http://www.hindu.com/2000/02/07/stories/01070005.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906051548/http://www.hindu.com/2000/02/07/stories/01070005.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 September 2012 |access-date=20 October 2011 |website=[[The Hindu]] |publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]}}</ref>

The resulting tensions and economic setbacks led to several years of struggle as Mehta was eventually forced to film ''Water'' in [[Sri Lanka]], rather than in India.<ref name="note3" /> Finally Mehta was able to make the film, but with a new cast and under a false title (''River Moon'') in 2003. The struggle to make the film was detailed by Mehta's daughter, [[Devyani Saltzman]], in a non-fiction book, ''Shooting Water: A Mother-Daughter Journey and the Making of the Film''.<ref name="note3">{{Cite web |last=Jasmine Yuen-Carrucan |title=The Politics of Deepa Mehta's Water |url=http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/28/water.html |access-date=8 May 2006}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Canadian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Saltzman |first=Devyani |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c75Uq0FbN-cC&pg=PA125 |title=Shooting Water: A Mother-daughter Journey and the Making of a Film |publisher=Penguin Books India |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-14-400102-6}}
* [http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/2293/0 Displacing Androcracy: Cosmopolitan Partnerships in Bapsi Sidhwa’s Water]

== External links ==
* {{Rotten-tomatoes|water}}
* {{mojo title|water06}}
* {{IMDb title|0240200}}
* {{metacritic film|water|Water}}
{{Deepa Mehta}}
{{Anurag Kashyap}}
{{Canadian submission for Academy Awards}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2005 films]]
[[Category:2005 drama films]]
[[Category:Canadian films]]
[[Category:Canadian drama films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:English-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Film controversies]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Mahatma Gandhi]]
[[Category:Films about women in India]]
[[Category:Films about widowhood in India]]
[[Category:Films shot in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Films set in 1938]]
[[Category:Films set in India]]
[[Category:Films set in the British Raj]]
[[Category:Films directed by Deepa Mehta]]
[[Category:Films scored by Mychael Danna]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Anurag Kashyap]]