New Releases

Water

Director Deepa Mehta
Producer David Hamilton
Starring Seema Biswas, Lisa Ray, John Abraham, Sarala(introducing), Manorma, Raghuveer Yadav, Khulbhushan Kharbanda, Waheeda Rehman

Water is the last installment of Deepa Mehta’s Trilogy after Fire and Earth. It takes up the cause of widows focusing on pains and struggles of widowhood. It also sheds light on issues like religion, corruption, poverty, child prostitution, and forbidden love during the late 1930's. The element Water is symbolic in the movie as it marks the beginning and ending.

During the late 1930's when Mahatma Gandhi led the independence struggle against British colonial rule a child widow, Chuyia (Sarala) arrives to a house of widows in a Hindu temple. Like her all widows here are supposed to live a life of grief and solitude in accordance with ancient Hindu religious beliefs.

Chuyia rejects this restrictive life and plays around. Her cheerful manners and playful acts bring in a new lease of life in the ashram. Her presence deeply affects the lives of the other residents, including a young widow, Kalyani (Lisa Ray). Kalyani is different from other widows. She is charming, has long hair and is modest. She falls in love with Narayana (John Abraham). Narayana is an intellectual who is a reformist law student.

Another widow by the name Shakuntala, resides in the ashram. She is a dedicated Hindu who accepts the hardships of being a widow as it is her faith but her conscience is in conflict with her faith. Through the lives of these three widows, Water brings forth the plight of widows.
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