Customer Reviews

Mississippi Masala

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What a brilliant piece of low-key, realistic movie making, from the days when Mira Nair was making in your face movies such as Salaam Bombay and Mississipi Masala.

The first thing admirable about it is Nair's ability to merge three cultures (Uganda, India, & Southern American) into an enchanting love story. An Indian family of a man, his wife and their young daughter Mina are expelled from Uganda under the reign of dictator Amin. The family eventually moves to the U.S. When Mina grows up she finds herself caught in a curious cultural twist and considers herself a mix "masala". She later falls in love with a black carpet cleaner (played immaculately by Denzil) only to stir up a hornet's nest in her family, culture and community.

The movie is from 1992, so the mild racism undercurrent may be a bit tired but wasn't when it came out, in fact most of the ironies (e.g., both the lovers are "colored" in different shades) are shown in a light-hearted and dignified manner.

The movie has a clutch of hilarious moments as well, which make it an all round fun movie to watch. Both the protagonists, Denzil as the southern man and Sarita Chaudhari as the Indian woman, are actually quite likeable characters and you end up caring about both of them.

A very wholesome treat to watch!

This is a sweet and poignant movie about an interracial relationship. Whites barely enter the picture in this one though; the forbidden relationship is between a black (Denzel Washington) and Indian Mina (Sarita Choudhury), both beautiful people and with onscreen chemistry between them. It's interesting that before their romance, members of each family agreed that Indians and Blacks needed to stick together, because "anyone who isn't white in America is colored", yet after the romance was discovered, Mina's father discourged her, saying that she needed to stick with "her own kind".

The theme of racism is brought to fore right at the beginning of the movie, with the banishment of Mina's Indian family from Uganda, a reminder that racism exists in many parts of the world. The family finds safety and economic opportunity in America, yet they never feel quite at home, or quite accepted in American society.

However, we also are reminded in the film that as slow as America has been to change in accepting minorities, and even more, interracial relationships, change is occurring. When the couple finds a way to go forward in their life and their relationship, they must make a decision that affects their families. The movie, though it has many delightful moments, shows us that overcoming racial barriers is still a bittersweet process.

Mira Nair's film "teaches" without being preachy. The motion picture explores racism in all its ugly forms. The story begins with the expulsion of Indians and other Asians from Uganda because "Africa is for Africans" and brings one family to America (Mississippi, to be exact). There the family, specifically the daughter (Sarita Choudhury) in her relationship with a black man (Denzel Washington) experiences some of the same prejudices faced in Uganda.

In one very amusing, yet revealing, series of scenes, various characters "speak" to the screen sharing their opinions about other races, as well as those of the same race with a different skin hue.

"Masala" is a beautiful film with strong performances by Washington, Choudhury, and veteran actors Roshan Seth and Joe Seneca. The supporting cast also complements a truly entertaining film.

Hopefully, the studio that released the film will re-issue it in video form for others to view this fine production.

I am very impressed with this particular movie. It was well-scripted and the cast is dynamic. Sarita Choudhury and Denzel Washington are superb actors. Roshan Seth should have been nominated for an Oscar for his performance as Mina's father. This movie really is Mira Nair's shining light.

I like the way the movie handles the reactions by both families to the interracial union of Mina and Demetrius. There are very few movies that can capture the emotions that go along with such a sensitive and controversial matter. Most importantly the opinions, thoughts, and traditions, both negative and positive, of both the Indian and Black communities are fairly communicated through the movie.

Also, this is probably one of the few movies that brings the horrific realities of Idi Amin Dada's regime to the mainstream. Many people unfortuanately do not know who this maniac was(is) or what he did to Uganda, its people, and the rest of Africa because it is not taught in many schools anymore. This book definately sheds some light on this vital part of world history.

Fans of Mira Nair's Oscar nominated SALAAM BOMBAY! will not be disappointed by this unassuming little movie about an interracial romance in Mississippi.

Denzel Washington and Sarita Choudhury are a pleasure to watch in this engaging story about a love affair between a Black man (who's never been to Africa) and an Indian woman (who has never been to India) and how thier romance causes strife in a small Southern town.

Washington and Choudhury have amazing chemistry onscreen, transforming this modern day romance into an updated Romeo & Juliet with a spicy twist. The anxiety and strife their union causes among family members and town locals is realistically portrayed without falling into the trap of being being preachy or contrived.

Against all this, a subplot in the story revolves around the loss of a homeland and friendship between Choudhury's proud Ugandan national father and the Black Ugandan friend he left behind during Idi Amin's reign of terror.

A must see film and the only one I'm aware of that explores the relationship between African Americans and ethnic Indians.

I had seen this film a number of times either on T.V. or by me popping it in on my DVD player. Denzel Washington and Sarita Choudhury are a pleasure to watch in this engaging story about a love affair between a Africa American male and an Indian woman, whom both has never been to there native land, and how their romance causes strife in a small Southern town. The movie handles the reactions by both families to the interracial union of Mina and Demetrius. Against all this, a subplot in the story revolves around the loss of a homeland and friendship between Choudhury's proud Ugandan national father and the Black Ugandan friend he left behind during Idi Amin's reign of terror.
There are very few movies that can capture the emotions that go along with such a sensitive and controversial matter. Most importantly the opinions, thoughts, and traditions, both negative and positive, of both the Indian and Black communities are fairly communicated through the movie. A must see film and the only one I'm aware of that explores the relationship between African Americans and ethnic Indians.

Mississippi Marsala begins in Uganda, as Idi Amin expels all the non-African landowners, turning their homes and property back to the Africans. Many Indians were brought to Africa to build roads and remained to raise their families and future generations. One of these men, Jay (Roshan Seth), a lawyer, is forced to leave with his wife and small daughter, Mina. Eventually the family moves to Mississippi, where other relatives and friends have set down roots, in this case, all of them living in the Motel Monte Cristo, owned by one of their group of exiles. Life goes on as usual, the rituals, traditions and holidays of an India many of them have never even seen.

Mina (Sarita Choudury) has grown up, still living with her parents at twenty-four, a dutiful daughter. While her mother works in a liquor store and Mina cleans rooms at the motel, Jay spends the years suing the government of Uganda for redress of his property, still trapped in memories of the world he was forced to leave. When Mina has a minor car accident, she meets Demetrius (Denzel Washington), a man who has his own business, a carpet cleaning service, with his best friend T-Bone (Charles S. Dutton). Mina and Demetrius carry on a low-key romance that gradually becomes more intense. When Mina's relatives spot the couple at a motel in Biloxi, a fight breaks out, revealing the harsh racial truths that have so far lain dormant. Suddenly no one wants to use the carpet cleaning service, so Demetrius retaliates by suing Mina's cousin, who broke into the motel room. How the couple resolves their differences isn't as important as the social issues that are exposed.

The cinematography is excellent, the African countryside awash with color and change, as the exiled gather their few belongings and board a shabby bus. Equally as striking is the Indian community gathered at the Motel Monte Cristo, the rooms decorated with the few cultural artifacts they have collected over the years. The Indians retain the spirit and enthusiasm that defines them. Demetrius' family is equally impressive, warm and accepting of Mina, sharing their home and hospitality. Watching both of these families as they deal with everyday concerns, it is shocking to see how easily misunderstanding can break down communication, separating the wonderful characters into "us" and "them", an exact mirror of the issues in Uganda that left Jay's family homeless. Demetrius challenges Jay, decrying the Indian's sense of entitlement, the Indians' value of property. He suggests that "home is where the heart is", not off in some distant land that they may never return to, a lesson Jay will learn all too well. This exuberant film from director Mira Nair dishes up a cultural feast of color and emotion, contrasting the customs of people who share the same heart. Luan Gaines/2005.

I've been a fan of Mira Nair's "Mississippi Masala" since seeing it's original theatrical release in the early '90s. I was very dissapointed, when for a good period of time it was out of print.Now to my great surprise and delight the movie has been released to DVD."Mississippi Masala" is a wonderful comedy/drama about coming of age, race relations and ruminations of home and the heart.Director, Mira Nair has deftly told the story of a transplanted Indian family, who has uneasily settled in rural Mississippi.We learn (in a series of backflashes) how the family had to sadly leave their native country of Uganda, under a mass expulsion ordered by dictator,General Idi Amin in the early '70s. The family's father, Jaye (well played by Roshan Seth) loses everything including his property, his best friend, his country and his self respect.Fast forward eighteen years later. The immigrant family's daughter, Mina (Sarita Choudury) has grown into a beautiful young women and is the 'Masala' of the film's title (a hot & spicey mixture of exotic ingrediants). Through a series of comical incidents she meets and falls in love with an pesonable, African American man named Demitrious (Denzel Washington), who runs his own carpet cleaning business.Sparks fly as the area's two minority communities (African-American & Indian) react with both hostlity and humor to the lover's interacial romance.This is a story about discovering one's place in life. About finding out where you belong and being with the one you love. Eventually the main characters learn the lesson that "home is where the heart is".This is wonderful moving film that touches both the heart and the funnybone.I highly recommend it!

I love this film. I saw this film when I was a young. My aunt had free tickets to the first showing at the Ritz, in Philly (The Ritz only shows movies that are not well known, such as independent films, documentaries, etc.) This movie stayed in my mind and now I own it on DVD. It is excellent. I loved Denzel in it and Charles S. Dutton is funny also. If you are a Denzel fan, you must have this one in your collection.

What a wonderful film. Kudos to Mira Nair, all of the actors and crewpeople, the producers, and the extras. This little gem of a film has not only stood the test of time, but is quietly growing in stature. Certainly one of the better efforts in Denzel Washington's body of work.

Other commentators have noted how good of job Nair does in making this film a "Masala" at many levels. Everything from the story, to the actors, the sets, the lighting and much else besides communicates and celebrates the vibrancy of life and of culture. Another sometimes overlooked aspect of the film's appeal is that this story is emblematic; we all KNOW and can relate to these characters, because we sense that they are based on real people.

This is a dignified story, told with passion and humor and spice. In short, this film is exactly what the title says it is. In short it's a wonderful slice of life.

Job well done.