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Fire Details

1996 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 2354 members

A powerful drama focusing on one woman's life in a loveless marriage who becomes involved with a beautiful woman. Fire stirred controversy in India when it was first screened. Read more

Starring Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das, Kulbhushan Kharbanda
Director Deepa Mehta
Genres Gay/Lesbian, Indian Cinema

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Fire

A powerful drama focusing on one woman's life in a loveless marriage who becomes involved with a beautiful woman. Fire stirred controversy in India when it was first screened.

Starring Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das, Kulbhushan Kharbanda
Director Deepa Mehta
Studio PATHE DISTRIBUTION
Run time DVD: 1 hr 48 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Gay/Lesbian, Indian Cinema
Released DVD: 31 Oct 2005
Production year: 1996
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (2) of Fire

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    Parodying the traditions of the traditional masala melodrama and opening Deepa Mehta's controversial “elements” trilogy, this was one of the first Indian films to depict adultery, pornography, masturbation and lesbianism. Deprived of love in a patriarchal society, Shabana Azmi succumbs to the advances of her equally neglected sister-in-law, Nandita Das, and embarks upon a romance that shatters their ultra-conservative family. With the exception of Ranjit Chowdhry's embittered servant, the males are rather crudely caricatured. But the female leads exhibit a courage that matches Mehta's bold discussion of such themes as arranged marriage, sexual emancipation, spiritual enslavement and disappointed ambition.

    • Radio Times
  • Beautifully shot and daringly told.

    • The Guardian
  • Most helpful member's review of Fire

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  • 91 out of 144 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    very much NOT Bollywood

    Come on people, wake up! This film is about as far from Bollywood as anything from the Subcontinent is capable of being!

    For the following reasons (in no particular order):

    1. it’s in English

    2. it shows kissing

    3. it shows WOMEN kissing (each other)

    4. it includes the word ‘f**king’

    5. there’s no song or dance

    6. there’s even a bit of naked breast

    This film deserves its 5 stars for its sheer audacity: I hadn’t thought that such an adventurous work could have been made within the suffocatingly staid confines of Indian cinema.

    It’s praiseworthy on too many levels to mention, including that it doesn’t opt for the tragic-homo scenario that would have been all too predictable. The acting is superb – career suicide I would imagine for some – and all-in-all it’s a very worthwhile hour-and-three-quarters, specially if you are in some way connected to or knowledgeable about the Indian Subcontinent world.

      • Rehan from London
  • Most recent members' review of Fire

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  • 17 out of 20 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    A movie on lesbian relationship

    It is an average movie. It focusses on how two women living in the same house who are not physically satisfied with their husbands get involved with each other. Their journey then starts for exploring the hidden truths of a lesbian relationship.

    Is good for one time watch.

      • A customer from England
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Rating breakdown

2,354 Member ratings
  • 100
228
  • 90
145
  • 80
359
  • 70
360
  • 60
466
  • 50
258
  • 40
198
  • 30
130
  • 20
139
  • 10
71

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    • Fire
    • DVD: £6.93
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    • RRP £15.79 (you save: 56%)
    • A powerful drama focusing on one woman's life in a loveless marriage who becomes involved with a beautiful woman. Fire stirred controversy in India when it was first screened....