Water

Water | Deepa Mehta | Widows

Set in pre independence India, based on the widows of Varanasi, is a story about a widow, Kalyani played by Lisa Ray. Kalyani is a prostitute by profession. She lives in a widow shelter in Varanasi. Narayana, who returns to his home after completing his law degree falls for her charms. A follower of Gandhi and Raja Ram Mohan Roy, decides to marry the widow Kalyani, not knowing her true identity. When he plans to take her to his parents, realizes that she is a prostitute serving his father. Kalyani's dreams are shattered. She submits herself to the goddess river Ganga. Narayana leaves Varanasi dejected and cheated.

The story is told with a child widow as a central character. Seema Biswas has given a good performance in a supporting character. Good actors like Kulbushan Kharbanda are Waheeda Rehman wasted in some not so necessary roles. Raghuvir Yadav as a eunuch pimp has done his role very well.

Deepa Mehta is done well, what she is good at doing always. Bashing Indian culture by her own interpretations of the spiritual granths and all praises for the British rule in India. After an initial opposition to her attempts to shoot her film in Varanasi, she has taken no chances in taking any further risks like using Indian God and Goddesses names for the characters of her movie. Like using "Radha" and "sita" for the names of Lesbian characters of her in famous film "Fire". Also she has not used any bold scenes which were very much prominent in her earlier movies. No need to say this movie is not a commercial success because, people are used to her tactics of making her movies a hit by raising a controversy before the release of the movie.

The closing shot of the movie has a quote, "there are 34 million women in India, suffering because of the superstitious Indian traditions..." I guess she is still living in pre independence India, not knowing where the Indian women has progressed. At the higher end there are women who are doing major advances in talking up responsibilities at high positions. Also there are women who are no more getting suppressed but on the other hand have become pure "Man Eaters" and materialistic who are using men for their won benefit. A character in a famous TV serial "Hotel Kingston" named "Shelly" comes to picture. They way she ditches her fiancée and boy friend when she meets a attractive subordinate "Vishwamitra Kelkar" and at the end ditches even him when he does not let him self used by her. I think Deepa Mehta must come out and see the real world where actually the "Men" are getting used by "Women" at some places.

Deek Tere Sansar Ke halat Kya hogaye Bhagawan
Kitna badal gaya insan...