Information
- BFI identifier359264
- Date1991 (Copyright)
1992-01-17 (Release) - Production countryUSA, United Kingdom
- Production company
- SynopsisThe story of an Indian family who after always having lived in Uganda, Africa, are forced to leave under the orders of dictator Idi Amin when he declares that Africa belongs only to 'black' Africans. As they are being herded onto the plane at Kampala airport, the mother who is carrying a cassette player drops it and it sets off the song in the cassette which happens to be 'Mera Joota Hai Japani' a nod to Raj Kapoor's song from his film 'Shree 420'. The lawyer, his wife and little girl Mina, move to Mississippi where again, years later, racism presents problems. This time between the Indian and American/African community, coming to a head when the now 24-year-old Mina falls in love with a black carpet cleaner. 'Masala' in the film means a 'mixture of hot spices' which is how Mina sees herself through having come from such a rich mixture of cultural backgrounds. (Synopsis)
- Genre
- CreditsDirected by: Mira Nair
©/Presented by: SCS Films Inc
Presented in association with: Odyssey Motion Pictures
view all - Cast
Title
Mississippi Masala (Original)
Mississippi Marsala (Alternative)
EIDR identifier
10.5240/06D6-B290-317A-D27E-0418-FCategory
FictionThis work is included in the BFI Filmography.
- Collections
- Film / Video
VHS cassette - Video - Viewing
view all - StillsPhotograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-975669
Photograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-975670
Photograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-975671
Photograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-975672
Photograph: transparency - Landscape - Colour - bfi-00n-stb
view all - ArticlesCinéaste v19 n2/3 December 1992 - Credits, ReviewBlack Film Review v7 n1 1991 - InterviewCinema in India v2 n8 August 1991 - Prod. ReportScreen International n836 6 Dec 1991 - Credits, Reviewview all
- Books
- +Mississippi Masala
Work - 359264 - 1991 (Copyright)
USA - Film - Fiction
Hierarchy Display