Filmmaker Mira Nair’s ‘Mississippi Masala’ was re-released in a remastered format in the US on April 15, 31 years after it first premiered in France. The movie starring Denzel Washington and Sarita Choudhury revolves around Indians being subjected to racism and xenophobia in Uganda.
The screenplay writer of the movie, Sooni Taraporevala believes the film will have a strong impact on the new generation of the Indian diaspora in the USA. She says, “When the film first came out, I was in India and there were so many comments like, ‘We aren’t like that, we aren’t racists’ but it’s just not true. We like pointing fingers at others and calling them racist, but deny it when it comes to us. It’s going to be very relevant for the next generation because sadly, not much has changed.”
Taraporevala, who bagged the Golden Osella Best Original Screenplay for it at the Venice International Film Festival in 1991, says, “In a climate where new films aren’t getting released theatrically, we find it absolutely amazing and thrilling that a film that’s 30-year-old is being re-released.” She feels it’s imperative to introduce the younger NRI audience to cult classics that offer them a glimpse into their culture. She says, “It’s always important to expose them to what came before, provided it’s relevant, especially in today’s times where attention spans are zero. Nobody reads and so, there’s no concept of history today.”
