Water

Article Updated 04 October, 2005 09:14:41 AM IST

Water

Set against the backdrop of Mahatma Gandhi's rise to power in pre-independent India, when the practice of child marriage was still prevalent, young girls were often wed to older men for economic reasons. When the men died, society dictated that the these young widows, who were left behind were farmed out to ashrams in order to live out the remainder of their lives as a curse, a renunciation, atoning for the past sins that resulted in the death of their husbands.

The story of 'Water' is about one such widow - Chuyia (Sarala), who is only eight-years-old at the time of her husband's death. As custom requires, her father sends her to the ashram under the jurisdiction of Madhumati (Manorma), a widow in her mid-70s. During the day, this powerful matriarch sits in the courtyard ordering the other widows around. By night she lies in her room, smoking ganja and listening to gossip from her only friend, eunuch and a pimp Gulabi (Raghuvir Yadav).

Two of the other widows who stand out are Shakuntala (Seema Biswas) and Kalyani (Lisa Ray)

Shakuntala is the most mysterious of all the widows. She is not only good-looking but also educated and intelligent. Yet, she is also quiet and reserved, and is caught between the hopeless situation of living out her remaining years in the ashram and her devotion to the commands of the Hindu scriptures.

Kalyani (Lisa Ray) is breathtaking. Because of the profession, which was forced on her by Madhumati, she is the only widow whose hair has not been shaved. Her uncomplicated and gentle nature radiates a child-like innocence. She spends her days talking to the small statue of the God Krishna she has in her room and playing with her puppy Kaalu. Her nights though become surreal, when Gulabi ferries her across the waters to the mansions of the rich aristocrats in Rawalpur. She accepts her unfortunate plight as her karma, in a most compelling way.

Through pure chance, she crosses paths with Narayan (John Abraham), a young upper class Gandhian idealist, who has just finished his law degree. There is an immediate attraction, but the restrictions placed on interaction with widows, makes it difficult to find a way of pursuing any kind of relationship. Despite this, Narayan ignores the cultural taboos and continues to meet Kalyani in order to marry her.

Encouraged by Chuyia, Kalyani becomes resistant to Madhumati's will, breaks tradition and falls for Narayan, forcing the other widows to question their future and faith. What follows will forever change all of their lives.

'Water' is the final film in Deepa Mehta's trilogy on the elements, following 'Fire' (1996) and 'Earth (1998). It's a film that is not to be missed.

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