Jai takes her to an older woman named Rasa Devi, who is a teacher of the Kama Sutra. He reveals that Maya has been the inspiration for his beautiful and highly erotic statues. Wandering on her own, she meets a young stone sculptor, Jai Kumar, who works for Raj.

When she refuses, he publicly brands her as a whore, and she is forced to leave her home. To save Maya's honour, Biki sends her a marriage proposal. Despite this, Tara still yearns for a loving relationship with her indifferent husband. An angry Raj rapes his horrified bride, even calling her Maya, setting a tone of violence and humiliation for the marriage. During her wedding night, Tara is hesitant to consummate their relationship. Maya takes revenge by seeking out Raj and having sex with him, before he has completed the marriage rites with Tara Biki, hiding, watches the two of them.Īs Tara is leaving home as a newlywed, Maya tells her that just as Maya wore the princess's used clothes all her life, Tara will now have something Maya has used. Noticing this, Tara spits in Maya's face and sends her from the wedding in tears.

Tara is prepared to marry Prince Raj Singh, but when the prince comes to view his future wife, he is instantly infatuated with Maya instead. As the girls approach marriageable age, Tara resents that Maya is a better classical dancer than she is and that her parents and hunchback brother, Prince Bikram (a.k.a 'Biki') show affection for her servant.

They are best friends, but there is an undercurrent of jealousy and resentment, symbolised by the fact that Maya is given Tara's hand-me-down clothes and never anything new to wear. In 16th-century India, Tara is a princess while Maya is her beautiful servant. The film generated controversy at the time of its release and was banned in India due to its erotic theme and sexual content. Kama Sutra was nominated for the Golden Seashell award at the 1996 San Sebastián International Film Festival and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. The English-language film was produced by Indian, British, German and Japanese studios.ĭeclan Quinn won the 1998 Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for his work in the film. It stars Naveen Andrews, Sarita Choudhury, Ramon Tikaram, Rekha, and Indira Varma. The film takes its title from the ancient Indian text, the Kama Sutra. The first portion of the film is based on 'Utran' ('Hand Me Downs'), a short story in Urdu by the Indian writer Wajida Tabassum. Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love is a 1996 Indian historical erotic romance film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Mira Nair.

Tales of Love & Loss by Knut Hamsun