Mississippi Masala: Difference between revisions

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
imported>Llogan79425
 
m (robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit))
 
Line 7: Line 7:
|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&#124;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
Line 53: Line 54:
* [[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
Line 59: Line 61:


==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:
Line 89: Line 91:
[[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]]

Latest revision as of 07:37, 30 June 2022


Mississippi Masala
File:Mississippi masala.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMira Nair
Produced byMira Nair
Studio Canal Souss
Written bySooni Taraporevala
Starring
Music byL. Subramaniam
CinematographyEdward Lachman
Edited byRoberto Silvi
Distributed byPalace Pictures (United Kingdom)[1]
Cinecom Pictures
The Samuel Goldwyn Company (United States)
Release date
  • September 18, 1991 (1991-09-18)
(France)
  • January 17, 1992 (1992-01-17)
(United Kingdom)
  • February 5, 1992 (1992-02-05)
(United States)
Running time
118 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million[2]
Box office$7,332,515[3]

Mississippi Masala is a 1991 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 Americans and Indian Americans.

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 USD at the box office.

Plot[edit]

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 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, 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.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

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.[4] The Mississippi-based scenes were filmed in Mississippi, in the towns of Greenwood, Grenada, Biloxi, and Ocean Springs. The Uganda scenes were filmed in Kampala, Uganda, including in Nair's home.[4][5]

Reception[edit]

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."[6]

Awards and honors[edit]

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Mississippi Masala (1991)". BBFC. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "AFI|Catalog".
  3. ↑ Template:Cite Box Office Mojo
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Muir, John Kenneth (2006). "Mississippi Masala (1991) and The Perez Family (1995)". Mercy in her eyes: the films of Mira Nair. Hal Leonard. pp. 71–106. ISBN 1-55783-649-3.
  5. ↑ Leah Asmelash. "'Mississippi Masala' was released 30 years ago. Here's how it still resonates with audiences today". CNN.
  6. ↑ "Mississippi Masala" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  7. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 19 August 2016.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mississippi_Masala&oldid=319436"