WATER (2005): A Pre-view

WATER (2005)
Director: Deepa Mehta
Cast: John Abraham, Lisa Ray, Seema Biswas, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Waheeda Rehman, Raghuvir Yadav, Vinay Pathak, Rishma Malik
Music: A.R Rahman
Screenplay: Deepa Mehta
WATER is the final film in Mehta's trilogy on the elements, following FIRE (1996) and EARTH (1998). FIRE, which is about the politics of sexuality; EARTH which is about the politics of nationalism; and WATER, which is about the politics of religion are all worth watching.

In pre-independent India, set against the backdrop of Mahatma Gandhi's rise to popularity, eight-year old child-bride Chuyia hears of her husband's death. Her father, following custom, exiles her to a widow's ashram where she is meant to live out her days. Chuyia's feisty presence starts to affect the lives of the other residents, in particular 20-year-old Kalyani (Lisa Ray a former model), 35-year-old Shakuntala (Seema Biswas of Bandit Queen) and an 80-year-old whose days are waning. Encouraged by Chuyia, Kalyani (who serves as the ashram's breadwinner) breaks tradition and falls for young upper-class Gandhian idealist Narayan (Bollywood star John Abraham), forcing the widows to question their future and faith. Even Chuyia is caught in the wind of change. WATER is a David Hamilton Production, and executive produced by Mark Burton, Ajay Virmani, and Doug Mankoff. Music score is by A.R Rahman.

WATER was officially realeased to a full house at the 30th Toronto International Film Festival, and is also appeared at Washington D.C.s recent SALTAF. The preview screenings, and the audiences reactions’ to the film have been favorable, and the film will be distributed in the in the U.S. by Fox Searchlight, the house that distributed the widely successful Bend It Like Beckham.

I would definitely not miss this film. And after my first sampling of the music yesterday on my radio show, I would certainly recommend it to everyone. It's contagious!

On second thoughts, I feel that Lisa Ray and John Abraham probably cannot do the same justice to the characters as the orginal cast would have done. It is unfortunate that the quality of a film has to suffer due to a few misinformed miscreants. The soundtrack is definitely worth your attention! The following three songs are wonderful: Bangri Marori, Naina Neer Bahai, and Piya Ho.

Test the Water(s) yourself ...