Mississippi Masala

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Mississippi Masala

R

1992

1h 58m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

92%

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77 Reviews

65%

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5,000+ Ratings

The vibrant cultures of India, Uganda, and the American South are blended and simmered into a rich and fragrant fusion feast in Mira Nair's luminous look at the complexities of love in the modern melting pot. Years after her Indian family was forced to flee their home in Uganda by the dictatorship of Idi Amin, twentysomething Mina (Sarita Choudhury) finds herself helping to run a motel in the faraway land of Mississippi. It's there that a passionate romance with the charming Black carpet cleaner Demetrius (Denzel Washington) challenges the prejudices of their conservative families and exposes the rifts between the region's Indian and African American communities. Tackling thorny issues of racism, colorism, culture clash, and displacement with big-hearted humor and keen insight, Nair serves up a sweet, sexy, and radical celebration of love's power to break down the barriers between us.

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Critics Consensus

Sarita Choudhury and Denzel Washington's romantic chemistry lights up the screen in Mississippi Masala, Mira Nair's observant and sexy tale of cultures clashing.

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Kat Sachs

Chicago Reader

Nov 13

It’s lush and nuanced, romantic and edifying.

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Derek Smith

Slant Magazine

05/19/2022

Mira Nair’s sophomore feature, Mississippi Masala, lives at the intersection of disparate cultures.

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

04/15/2022

Mississippi Masala appears to have been produced on a modest (by Hollywood standards) budget, but it is a big movie in terms of talent, geography and concerns.

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

Jan 3

7/10

[Cinematographer Ed] Lachman distinguished the two worlds of Mississippi Masala—Uganda and Mississippi—through his choice of lenses and film stock...

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

12/07/2024

4/5

The heart of this story revolves around the sweet and sexy romance of Mina and Demetrius, and Washington is downright radiant in his youth and command.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

02/29/2024

It’s a nuanced tale of interracial love that tackles colorism, how prejudice functions within a local economy, and the generational pain of cultural displacement.

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Henry D

@Henry_Domke Jul 18

Culturally rich and very much of its time, Mississippi Masala captured a complicated mix of cultures in a way that felt authentic. It was fun to see Denzel Washington so early in his career. The restored print looked very good, and the lively blend of Indian, African, and American music gave the film an upbeat energy. It was also a reminder that racism comes in many forms. The film showed several of them, including Black Ugandans rejecting Indian Ugandans and Indian Americans rejecting African Americans.

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David F

@dfulmer Dec 24

This Romeo and Juliet style romance set in Mississippi felt very realistic, authentic, and relatable. A low budget film but with great acting and writing.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Aug 13

Funny in 1 hour and 58 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $7,300,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Zach W.

@zwreviews 06/26/2025

Starring Denzel Washington and Sarita Choudhury, Mississippi Masala encompasses common tropes of a romantic-comedy while also balancing its serious commentary. Though its pace is inconsistent with several moments that feel drawn out, Mississippi Masala does tell an emotionally compelling story with an infatuating romance. Mira Nair captures the beauty of culture and family while also showing the conflict of converging interests and values. Overall, Mississippi Masala may not be a romance that hits as hard for all viewers, but it certainly connected to me personally and emotionally. Denzel Washington is the clear standout performance, but his connection and chemistry with Sarita Choudhary is affectionately intimate. Mississippi Masala uses its comedy to cut through its themes in an elaborate and creative way.

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Jay O

@RT47478467 05/15/2025

Great film and beautifully shot images of Uganda and the south of America

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Smeera C

@RT09418029 07/26/2024

Fabulous storyline about relationships, culture, generational differences, and belonging. Excellent acting all round, especially the main characters.

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Synopsis

The vibrant cultures of India, Uganda, and the American South are blended and simmered into a rich and fragrant fusion feast in Mira Nair's luminous look at the complexities of love in the modern melting pot. Years after her Indian family was forced to flee their home in Uganda by the dictatorship of Idi Amin, twentysomething Mina (Sarita Choudhury) finds herself helping to run a motel in the faraway land of Mississippi. It's there that a passionate romance with the charming Black carpet cleaner Demetrius (Denzel Washington) challenges the prejudices of their conservative families and exposes the rifts between the region's Indian and African American communities. Tackling thorny issues of racism, colorism, culture clash, and displacement with big-hearted humor and keen insight, Nair serves up a sweet, sexy, and radical celebration of love's power to break down the barriers between us.

Director: Mira Nair
Producer: Michael Nozik, Mira Nair
Distributor: The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Production Co: Black River Productions, Movie Works, Mirabai Films, Cinecom Pictures, Channel Four Films, Studio Canal Souss
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 1992, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Apr 15, 2022
Release Date (DVD): May 27, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.3M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround