Indo-Canadian Filmaker Deepa Mehta has signed on to direct, according to Variety, a new documentary for Canadian Television entitled, “For Crying Out Loud,” a film focusing on four women—hailing from India, El Salvador, Nigeria and Canada—who have been victims of domestic violence.
I am glad that Mehta is coming back, especially after the poor show with Bollywood/Hollywood and The Republic of Love, but what I really want to know is, when will Water, the final film in her trilogy (Fire, 1947 Earth) be released? I liked Fire, while a little slow and odd, after Mississippi Masala, it was my first foray into contemporary (non-Bollywood) Indian cinema, and I was enthralled by Mehta’s work.
When 1947 Earth was released, not only did I first see Amir Khan as a real actor, I saw that Deepa Mehta had the potential to make a serious impact on international cinema. Earth was a huge improvement on Fire, and I was anxiously awaiting the last installment of the trilogy, Water.
Anyway, a little Google search led me to this article in India Daily which suggests an imminent release.
After causing a spark in a tinderbox, her film Water is finally complete and ready for an early release. With a new cast and new settings, the film will hit theatres in November. “I”m so glad I”ve got it out of my system. Now I feel I could just retire. I”m that satisfied with Water,” said the director. The film’s rights have been given to NRI entrepreneur Ajay Virmani.
Fire is definitely not a good work. The focus was more on mocking hinduism and not to deal with the main issue of Lesbianism not being accepted in India and now Water. I dont have any high expectations for her water movie. I hope this is not another movie just to mock hinduism. Indian Film Industry is well off without her.
Coming to the reasons why ?
1) Fire was not at all clear on what the director wants to convey ? If any one thinks other wise, what is fire about ? There are two possibilities : 2) If fire was about Lesbianism, there was too much focus on Hinduism and the philosophy followed by the husband. 3) If it is about the bad things in hinduism, none of the things in it happen universally or atleast in such a bunch together.
i actually didn’t mind “bollywood/hollywood”. it was cute. flawed, but cute.
Aamir Khan was an actor long before 1947 Earth. It all depends on what conventions of acting one wants to use to rate him or other ‘bollywood’ folks. To millions around the world, Aamir as Munna (in Rangeela) or Raj (in QSQT), to name a couple, was just as accomplished as he was in Earth!
Regardless of Fire’s merit as a film (which I can’t evaluate, since i saw it so long ago), that it addressed lgbt issues and gender (the part that maybe has you at a loss, Midhun) at a time was important to me personally, and, I imagine, some other desi queer people and their loved ones. When she made the film (1996) those issues were hardly confronted in desi films, much less desi communities as a whole. Read some of this old news to refresh your memory about how it was received in some quarters and the impact it had on some lgbt people.
Bollywood/Hollywood was annoying, but I agree that there were parts that were cute. And I liked the bit about assumptions about race / personality (and the appearance of Akshay Khanny :).
She is kind of a dictatorial freak.
When she was shooting the train scene in Earth (which featured many bodies piled on top of each other), one of the people in the pile had to go to the bathroom while shooting. It took a lot of work to create that macabre human pyramid, and Deepa Mehta told the guy to just go there (on top of other people).
While shooting for Water, she wanted to shoot a naked boy/toddler for one of her scenes. She couldn’t find such an actor so she went to a Toronto whorehouse and asked them if they could provide her with one. They looked at her like she was (is?) crazy.
I thought Bollywood Hollywood was almost as bad as “East is East” (not hers).
3 strikes and you’re out, I say.
whoa, vurdlife, 1) and 2) are really freaky. Where did you hear that? I hope you werenn’t one of the people in the pile underneath that guy 🙂
I think I have horrible taste in movies, because I liked East is East (and Dude Where’s My Car, but that’s a separate tale).
Saurav, while I don’t want to comment on your appreciation of Dude, Where’s My Car, East is East is an awesome film, one of my favorites in fact.
okay good. now i don’t feel as isolated in my movie tastes 🙂
btw, on DWMC: kitsch appeal, sajit, kitsch appeal. it’s a good bad movie (as opposed to star wars episode 1).
Hey Vurdlife, care to share your sources for your 1 & 2? Sounds like some vicious rumours created by haters if you ask me…
I liked Fire, and I didn’t think Fire mocked Hinduism, but maybe I should watch it again (it’s been a while). I do remember disagreeing with its notion that women are lesbians only because of bad husbands.
That said, I’m looking forward to Water. She’s certainly had enough challenges in trying to make this film.
I guess Deepa Mehta is an equal opportunity offender. I was personally disgusted by her portrayal of Sikhs in both ‘Earth’ and ‘Bollywood/Hollywood.’
I think her presentation of the relationship was a little more complicated and had to do with feminism (which was a significant part of the anaysis, once you get beyond the lesbian relationship). But I take your basic point.
Hello Ms. Mehta, I’ve just come back from watching Water and I wanted to tell you that you have influenced and encouraged me to do something for India, although I live in Canada and am originally an Afghan I have decided to study international law so I can get better opportunties. Thanks for the inspiration.
I am a black American female who recently rented WATER by Deepa Mehta and thought the movie was well-done and should be in-line for many awards. I had never heard of Deepa Mehta and came on line to find out more about her since I enjoyed the movie so much.
I know that many of you who happen to be Indian or practice Hinduism may take great offense to the movie. The movie was such an eye-opener as it relates to religion in general and how we tend to follow the precepts of a religion that is clearly painful, demoralizing, and destroy or surpress the human spirit versus uplift it. In general, this is a man’s world — regardless of what ethnic group you belong to, or what religion you practice.
To be made aware that in India when a man dies the woman is made to feel/believe that she is the cause of it and that she is a sinner, and therefore is treated like shown in the movie; head shaved, can only wear white, can only live in a house with other widower’s, can only eat certain foods etc. is outragous!!! There should be a civil rights movement aginst this in India — right now! First of all to marry off little girls at the age of seven is unconsciousable and should not be permitted.
It is known that for the many faults in the United States, it is STILL and will FOREVER be one of the luckiest places in the world to be born and live. Such injustices as described in the moie Water far surpass the injustices we as women protest against here in the United States.
This movie has made me re-think my own religious beliefs! (Born a Christian practicing Buddhist for over 20 years.) In many cases religious precepts are often offensive as it relates to the freedom that religion is suppose to help us achieve; man or woman.
Congratulation, Deepa Mehta! Great work!
One would definately get convinced of her intention after seeing movie FIRE! I alway doubt why such super secular Hindus love to bash Hindus in order to keep up cheap publicity. Deepa Mehta is undoubtedly part of an anti hindu squad!
Beverly I really think you should take your head out of your arse and visit India and I mean the whole subcontinent before you make such a judgement on a country and its religion based on the perception of some bigoted anti-Hindu westernized person. Did you even consider the reason as to why Hindus conducted those practices in those days and why it came to be? Have you read the Hindu scriptures and I mean the vedas, upanishads, brahmasutras, the Bhagavat Gita and the puranas before you realised how bad Hinduism was? Morons like you especially those from judeo christian backgrounds make haste judgements on eastern philosophies just by reading one book or watching one pathetic movie like Water!. India has had a female prime minister for more than a decade and a currently a president. Where has there been a women president in the United states? I am not denying that widows were treated bad and that girls as young as seven were married off but you cant assume the whole sub-continent practices such customs, I am from the south and back in those days women got married in their early twenties and widows never had to shave their head or wear white clothes. I could make base judgement on the whole of continental europe for colonialism, genocide and imperialism but why should nations especially in eastern europe cop the flack for the fallacies of western europe? Once again beverly, get your head out of your arse and go to India and see for yourself how Hinduism is practiced and how diverse the contient is! -Muski
arey isko hamare baajoo ke mulk mein bhejdena chahiye..zyada muh kholegi to zyada andar ghusayenge….. dont be so rational towards her..she is none to India.. if she were, she might have been in India only ..
no one is black nor white..evryone is GODs messenger for some activity..never say u r from some race..