MISSISSIPPI MASALA
A film review by Sunil Ramchandani
Copyright 1992 Sunil Ramchandani
Starring Denzel Washington, Sarita Choudhury, Roshan Seth, Sharmila Tagore, and Charles Dutton Directed by: Mira Nair Music: L. Subramanium
An Appealing Montage of Colors
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To call Mira Nair's latest film a heavy handed social commentary, would, in my opinion, be doing great injustice to this lady and her film. A message it does carry, but that is definitely not the intent of the film. For if it were, then the whole premise is wrong, the situations are uncalled for, and the characters are too cliched. This is a very unpretentious, earthy, and simplistic collage of varied characters.
The main protagonist of the film Jai (Roshan Seth) is an Indian (as in from India) African, very idealistic by nature, who forever harbors dreams of his native homeland--Uganda, after being expelled (along with all the Indian expatriates) from there in 1972. Normally, it would be easy to dismiss Jai off as a hypocrite. But hypocrite he is not, rather a man with good intentions, albeit his hard experiences have embittered him to the point of being detestful of the black-skinned. Still, is he really that resentful of the black race? No, rather it is just an outlet to vent his frustrations, for he was after all a victim of circumstances beyond his control.
It is really this feeling which comes into play after he hears about the relationship of his only daughter and child Mina (Sarita Choudhury) with the local carpet cleaner Dimitrius (Denzel Washington), even though he rationalizes to Washington otherwise. Drawing upon his own experiences he tries to explain to Washington, why he is not willing to let his daughter go through similar situations he experienced as one of the minority when in Uganda.
His realization is late in coming, though nonetheless is very welcome, and in a scene remarkably done as he embraces a black African baby while watching a dance in a street square in Kampala, Uganda. The whole scene is so much significant of the world as it is today, a world in transition, a much closer and smaller world.
The movie on the whole is very appealing and entertaining. The smalltown ambience of Greenwood definitely adds to the unique flavor. Also the characters of the Indian motel owners albeit cliched, add good humor to a movie which in any case has a strong undercurrent of being funny.
Of the cast, both Choudhury and Washington are a match made for each other. The chemistry between them is terrific, the scenes involving them have a spontaneity and freshness erstwhile seldom witnessed. As proof, you have a scene where they are taking a walk in the scenic environs of Greenwood, when he very hesitantly asks if he could kiss her. The whole shot is so well handled, it is very difficult not to break out into a smile. Kinu (played by Sharmila Tagore) as the mother is very adequate,she appears emotionally distraught and very vulnerable for most part, a typical Indian wife would best characterize her role. Charles Dutton (from the Fox TV show ROC) is delightful in a cameo as Tyronne--business partner of Washington. Of the Indian cast, Anil (Ranjit Chowdhury) as the motel owner, and his friend Pontiac (Mohan Gokhale) are brilliant. And finally Roshan Seth who seems very effective as the morose and yet hopeful Jai still pining for his homeland. If you've seen GANDHI, you'd recognize Roshan Seth (plays the role of Nehru) as a terrific actor.
The film does include some breathtaking shots of the countryside in Kampala, the green rolling hills, and Lake Victoria (?) as seen from Jai's house. In her second major attempt after SALAAM BOMBAY Mira Nair maintains her effort, not superlative, but good nonetheless. In any case this Harvard film school product seems destined to go places. Her next motion picture which she is doing for Warner Bros. is about the life of Buddha.
I recommend this film unequivocally; you'll leave the movie theater with a smile. As Sarita tells Denzel in one of the scenes from the film, that she is essentially a 'Masala' (mixture of spices) having lived in different countries and having experienced different cultures, this film is also loaded with all the Masala for an evening of entertainment.
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