Fire: Not quite hot. Review on Fire

“Fire” is a 1996 movie, made by a Canadian Indian director Deepa Mehta. The movie stars stalwarts like Shabana Aazmi and Nandita Das in lead roles.

The primary theme of the movie is a lesbian relationship between two protagonists, who are shown as sister-in-laws in the movie. The movie’s backdrop is a typical Indian middle class joint family containing two brothers, their wives, elderly mother and a servant. Apparently, both the women in the house are being ignored by their husbands sexually as well as emotionally. This leads to them being physically involved with each other.

This movie when released had created quite a furor and was boycotted by almost all the political parties. Perhaps, the era in which this movie was made (1996) has also has a huge impact on the way it had been turned out. The story is based in 1996, sixteen years back! The theme of this movie can certainly be considered “too bold” for those times unlike today when the likes of Sunny Leone are being signed as mainstream actresses.

This was the time when India was not particularly “shinning”, when being an NRI was a guaranteed celebrity-hood and when everything western was considered supreme. This was the time when EVERY bright Indian kid used to grow up with a dream of leaving this damned country one day and settle down at some divine western country. (USA, UK, Canada etc.) Inclination for the west still exists but not as grave and desperate as it was in 80s and 90s.

It’s evident that this movie was targeted at the Non-Indian audiences (Not NRI). Few indications:

-Being made in English, despite the Indian middleclass backdrop

-Excessive reference to Hindu Mythology

-Depiction of unnecessary religiosity (Hindu as well as Muslim)

-Mockery of “Indian” lifestyle

While the lesbian relationship is portrayed with sensitivity, the explanation provided for it is not reasonable enough. One assumes that sexual orientation is supposed to be natural but the moviemaker seems to think otherwise.

I’m not commenting on the moral aspect of the theme as that can be widely subjective. If this movie had released in current times, it would have been evaluated purely on its merit rather than in terms of its impact on the “Indian culture”, as happened in 1996.

Unlike the movie’s script, the acting is very convincing. Both, Shabana and Nandita manage to portray their complex roles with an effortless else. If not for these two, “Fire” wouldn’t have enjoyed such grand critical acclaim.

Artistically and technically, “Fire” is a good effort but having said that, this movie seems a sure shot Foreign Audience pleaser. International award winning seems more important purpose here rather than a genuine cinema. The movie has a strong feministic feel where ALL the male characters (both brothers, servant) are portrayed as sick, sexual perverts. Fire is not as gross as “Slumdog Millionaire” but it definitely relies heavily on the humiliation and ridicule of the “Indianness”.

Vaibhavi