Loads to unpack here in “Mississippi Masala,” obviously, and it’s not just issues of one particular community that’s discussed here, but two: the Black community persevering in Mississippi as well as the Indian immigrant community and how most times, unity and learning about each other’s roots and struggles and being understanding and loving in times of crisis is the only solution.
Set in Greenwood, Mississippi in the ’90s, the movie revolves around Mina (Sarita Choudhury), a young Indian girl who was born and lived in Uganda before Idi Amin’s dictatorial regime forced her and her family out and now finds herself feeling lost and sans identity in the States and Demetrius, a young black man born and raised in Mississippi who truly believes that he is now living in a new America, despite his family still being forced to slave away, although he has an identity of his own. Both of them find comfort and solace in each other and get consumed in a whirlwind of romance as well as racial prejudice. The movie also brings to the fore an identity crisis for Mina’s father who wishes to return to Uganda and make matters alright between him and an old friend, as well as the hurdles of both Mina and Demetrius’ families trying to hit it big in the States without anyone taking them at task for the colour of their skin.
In a cruel world torn apart on the basis of race, this movie makes you think hard— and even though it came out in the ’90s, it’s still too hard to digest the truth of it all. The script and dialogues by Sooni Taroporewala (of “The Namesake” fame) are simple but hard hitting (here are a few to sample: “Cruelty has no colour” and “Racism is like tradition, passed on like recipes”) and profound. The acting is in top form as well, from a young Denzel Washington who turns in an effortless performance as Demetrius, and Sarita Choudhury’s performance as Mina could break barriers if it was any stronger. Watching veterans like Sharmila Tagore and Roshan Seth is nothing short of brilliant. The supporting cast too is exceptional. The music goes with the flow and suits the tone of the story. A movie that will stick with you and hopefully is used as an educational tool someday for generations to learn that cruelty indeed has no colour.
2 Comments
This was a great review – you really captured the nuanced way the film explores the complexities of identity and belonging. I especially appreciated your point about the film not shying away from the prejudices within each community, not just between them. It’s a movie that stays with you long after the credits roll!
Thank u for reading and for leaving a comment too. Mira Nair is one of my favorite storytellers especially her grounded approach to stories about the diaspora and the themes, of course. The Namesake, Suitable Boy more recently and Monsoon wedding are all timeless classics , and as u said also stay with u long after credits (although I can never bring myself to watch The Namesake more than once , it’s such a tearjerker but the movie is imprinted in my mind)