ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

WATER is the final film in a trilogy capturing the changing face of India society. It began production in Varansi in 2000, but attracted so much opposition from Hindu fundamentalists that it had to be abandoned.

Writer/director Deepa Mehta was able to resume production five years later, but only by moving to Sri Lanka and shooting under a false title of ‘River Moon’.

The drama of the film’s production is almost more compelling than the film itself, but it is that clash between extremism and social injustice that lies at the very heart of the story.

Set in 1938, ‘Water’ follows the fate of Chuyai (Sarala). Married at eight and a widow soon after, Chuyai must follow tradition and enter an ashram for widows where she will stay for the rest of her life.

Her youthful curiosity and high spirits provoke unease among the rest of the widows who live under the thumb of the venal Madhumati (Manorma).

The beautiful Kalyani (Lisa Ray) is the one emboldened to follow her heart, and the film veers into Mills and Boon territory when she falls for the dashing Narayan (John Abraham), an enlightened follower of Gandhi who is prepared to defy tradition and offer marriage to a widow.

Beautifully designed and photographed, ‘Water’ is a rather slow-moving, genteel exploration of a topic that almost demands a more angry, white-hot response. It has moments of true charm and insight, but the reliance on overblown romance and mild melodrama tend to extract the sting from this tale.

Selected nationwide release
© Allan Hunter, 2007

Director: Deepa Mehta
Stars: Seema Biswa, Lisa Ray, John Abraham, Sarala, Manorma, Raghuvir Yadav
Screenwriter: Deepa Mehta
Certificate: 12A
Running time: 114 mins
Country: Canada/USA
Year: 2005