Sawnet - Cinema - Deepa Mehta
was born in Amritsar and received a degree in philosophy from the University of New Delhi. She moved to Canada, where she began her cinematic career writing scripts for children's films.
- The Politics of Deepa Mehta's Water. Her camera assistant writes about the controversy surrounding Water, where the filming was stopped.
- at the SAJA gathering.
Filmography
- Water
(2005, 1hr, 54 min)
Set in 1938 Colonial India, against Mahatma Gandhi's rise to power, the story begins when
eight-year-old Chuyia is widowed and sent to a home where Hindu widows must live in penitence. Chuyia’s feisty presence affects the lives of the other residents, including a young widow, who falls for a Gandhian idealist.- Sawnet Review by Shipra Mandal
- Sawnet Review of Shooting Water, a book about the
filming of this film, by Deepa Mehta's daughter.
- Water website
- Lots of other reviews
- Earth
(1999, )
Based on Bapsi Sidhwa's "Cracking India", a searing story set around the India-Pakistan Partition of 1947.
- Sawnet Review by Meena Narahari, Kavita Chetty, Aravinda Pillalamarri, Sujata Pal, Susan Chacko, Reeta Sinha, Nithya Krishnaswami, Tanushree, Paromita Vohra
- Interview at the Toronto film festival. in Himal.
- "If people want to separate they should understand what it would really mean.
- Pics of actors,
authors and director, from a SAJA event.
-
Interview with Deepa Mehta in Earth Times.
-
Review from Palo Alto Weekky (scroll down).
-
Review from the Hindu, 10 Oct 99.
- Review
from Outlook, 11 Oct 99.
-
Review from Pakistan Link
- Review
from Planet Bollywood
-
Review from the Washington Post
- Fire
(1996, )
Set in contemporary India, Fire is the bold and compelling story of two sisters-in-law who break the bonds of obedience and tradition to start a new life together. Stars Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das.
- Sawnet Review by Sonya Pelia, Madhushree Ghosh, Raka Ray, Farah Nousheen, Shobana Swamy, Uma Parameswaran, Ranjani Saigal, Manjusree Sen, Pia Sen
- Deepa's Doctrine. Interview about Fire.
- Fire creates controversy and protests
in India -- an ongoing update of news reports.
- Madhu Kishwar on Fire, along
with responses by Sawnet subscribers, and the rest of the
Manushi/Sawnet controversy.
- Camilla
(1994, )
A story about two women, one young and one old, who get a second chance at love. Stars Jessica Tandy and Bridget Fonda.
- Sam and me
(1991, )
23-year-old Nikhil comes to Canada from India to find his fortune and is convinced by his uncle to work as a companion and care-giver to Sam, an elderly Jewish man. Their unlikely friendship gives both men new insight into life.
Sawnet film reviews
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