Mississippi Masala (1991) Review

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

A Timeless Tale of Love and Cultural Clash

Mississippi Masala (1991) is a romantic drama produced and directed by Mira Nair and written by Sooni Taraporevala. The film beautifully explores themes of displacement, identity, and forbidden love.

Plot Summary: From Uganda to Mississippi

The film begins with the expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1972 during the dictatorship of Idi Amin. A family of Ugandan Indians—Jay, his wife Kinnu, and their young daughter Mina—are forced to abandon their life and property in Kampala.

They initially relocate to England but later move to the United States, settling in Mississippi where they help manage a motel run by relatives. Jay remains devastated by their expulsion and constantly writes letters to successive Ugandan governments, demanding his citizenship and restitution for his family’s losses. The traumatic events in Uganda and the fallout from his childhood friendship with a man named Okelo have left Jay deeply distrustful of Black people.

In contrast, his daughter Mina has assimilated into American life. Her mother, Kinnu, wants her to marry Harry, a respectable and affluent member of the Indian community. However, Mina falls for Demetrius, an African American man who owns a carpet cleaning business. While Demetrius’s family is initially hesitant but ultimately accepting, Mina lies to her own family about him, knowing they will reject him for not being Indian—and for being a Black man.

Analysis: Culture Overshadows Romance

Mississippi Masala has two central parts: the historical expulsion from Uganda and its impact on Jay, and the contemporary romance. In my opinion, the cultural elements overshadow the romantic plotline. The story between Mina and Demetrius sometimes feels shallow and weak, despite the chemistry of the two leads. Notably, at the start, Demetrius was using Mina to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. While the couple shares some interesting scenes, their relationship fails to convince as a grand love story, and their ending feels ambiguous.

Regarding character motivations, I found it odd that Jay tells Mina he feels he failed as a parent because she did not attend college, yet he is not working in America himself. This contradiction did not make much sense within the script.

Themes: Racism, Prejudice, and Belonging

Concerning the cultural elements, the film successfully blends Indian American and African American traditions. Music complements the script perfectly, combining Indian classical melodies with American blues and soul.

Concurrently, Mississippi Masala offers important commentary on racism. In a powerful scene, Demetrius accuses Jay of being an example of Indians who “act white” in the U.S. The movie concentrates on Indian prejudice against Black people as a response to Idi Amin’s xenophobic dictatorship. Both Mina and Demetrius face consequences from the collision of their cultures, as well as racism from white people in America.

Character Deep Dive

• Mina: A 24-year-old Indian American woman working at her relatives’ motel, Mina is a free spirit pressured by her parents to socialize within the Indian community. Having adapted to the American lifestyle, she resists cultural restrictions. She did not attend college because her family could not afford it.
• Demetrius: A young African American entrepreneur who owns a carpet cleaning business, Demetrius prioritizes family, having forgone college to care for his father. He falls for Mina, initially oblivious to her parents’ deep-seated prejudices.
• Jay: Mina’s father, who is haunted by his family’s expulsion from Uganda. He remains unemployed, devoting his energy to writing letters to the Ugandan government in a futile hope of reclaim his citizenship and property.
• Kinnu: Jay’s wife and Mina’s mother, Kinnu runs a liquor shop. She values tradition and wishes to see her daughter marry Harry, a distinguished member of the Indian community.
• Okelo: Jay’s childhood friend from Uganda, whose friendship withered after the expulsion. Okelo appears only in flashbacks.

Praise for the Cast and Performances

Sarita Choudhury was excellent in the role of Mina. The casting of Sahira Nair as the young Mina was also successful, as she closely resembles Choudhury. Denzel Washington delivered a genuine and compelling performance as Demetrius, and his on-screen chemistry with Sarita Choudhury was a highlight. Roshan Seth was incredibly expressive as Jay, delivering a heartfelt performance that evokes deep emotion. Sharmila Tagore’s subtle and realistic acting as Kinnu effectively showed her character’s struggle to balance her husband’s happiness with her daughter’s future.

Direction and Cinematography: A Foundation of Realism

Mira Nair’s direction is grounded in simplicity and authenticity, allowing the narrative to be driven by the characters’ experiences. The cinematography by Edward Lachman uses wide shots to convey isolation and close-ups to highlight intimacy. The use of natural lighting contributes significantly to the film’s realism. Indian culture is vividly portrayed through colorful and textured settings, creating a visual contrast with the American landscapes.

Final Thoughts: A Redeeming Yet Abrupt Ending

Personally, I found the ending redeeming but very abrupt. While it offers a sense of hope for the characters, its suddenness may leave some viewers wanting more closure.

Mississippi Masala was originally released February 5, 1992 (United States)

• Rating Certificate: R (for sensuality and language)
• Studios & Distributors: Black River Productions
• Director: Mira Nair
• Written By: Sooni Taraporevala
• Country: United States | United Kingdom
• Language: English
• Run Time: 118 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Original Release Date: 5 February 1992