Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996)
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In 16th-century India, the lives of a princess and her servant become inextricably entwined through a series of scandalous choices and forbidden desires.
The story
In 16th-century India, a princess named Tara and her servant Maya are best friends who share a bond complicated by the social hierarchy of their world. As they reach marriageable age, tensions rise between them due to differing perceptions of status and talent. When Tara's intended groom, Prince Raj Singh, becomes infatuated with Maya instead of the princess, a dramatic confrontation occurs. Maya's subsequent actions of defiance and the resulting fallout set the stage for a complex journey of survival, identity, and forbidden romance as both women navigate the dangerous political and social landscape of the royal court.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 16th-century India, Princess Tara and her servant Maya are close friends, though Maya is often treated as a subordinate. When Prince Raj Singh chooses Maya over Tara during the wedding proceedings, a bitter rivalry erupts. Maya seeks revenge by seducing the Prince before the marriage is finalized. Following a series of events that lead to Maya being branded a whore and forced into exile, she finds a mentor in Rasa Devi and begins a secret romance with a sculptor named Jai Kumar. Meanwhile, Raj becomes a king consumed by opium and debauchery. Maya eventually becomes his favored concubine, while Jai must hide their past relationship from the king. As an invasion looms, the two lovers meet in secret and exchange vows. Ultimately, Raj executes Jai after discovering his secret, and Maya is left to navigate the aftermath of the war and the loss of her lover.
- First release year
- 1996
- Runtime (minutes)
- 117
- Production countries
- India; United Kingdom; Germany; Japan
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Mira Nair
- Writers
- Mira Nair · screenplay; Mira Nair · story
- Cast and characters
- Indira Varma · Maya; Sarita Choudhury · Tara, The Princess; Naveen Andrews · Raj Singh; Ramon Tikaram · Jai Kumar; Rekha · Rasa Devi, Teacher of Kama Sutra; Avijit Dutt · Vazir, The King's Prime Minister; Harish Patel · Doctor; Zoya Akhtar · Rasa Devi's Courtesan
- Genres
- historical; erotic romance
- Themes
- social hierarchy; forbidden love; female perspective; betrayal
- Tone and mood
- lush; voluptuous
- Setting
- 16th-century India
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; erotic; romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- Utran by Wajida Tabassum
- Content notes
- erotic; sexual content
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising its female-centric approach to sensuality but criticizing its plot. It also generated controversy and was banned in India.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 40% · scale: percentage · review count: 20
- Awards and nominations
- Independent Spirit Award · Best Cinematography · 1998 · win
- Production trivia
- The film's title is not related to the actual Kama Sutra text.; A.R. Rahman declined to score the film due to the title.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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