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Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996)

5.6
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Ratings: 5.6/10 from 6,299 users  
Reviews: 89 user | 33 critic

Two girlhood friends become sexual rivals at maturity.

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Title: Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Maya
...
Tara, the Queen
...
Jai Kumar
...
Raj Singh
...
Rasa Devi, teacher of the Kama Sutra
Khalid Tyabji ...
Biki
Arundhati Rao ...
Annabi
Surabhi Bhansali ...
Young Maya
Garima Dhup ...
Young Tara
Pearl Padamsee ...
Maham Anga
Kusum Haidar ...
Dilki
Harish Patel ...
Doctor Mani
Ranjit Chowdhry ...
Babu
Achala Sachdev ...
Rupa (as Achla Sachdev)
Arjun Sajnani ...
Bashir
Edit

Storyline

Tara and Maya are two inseparable friends in India. Their tastes, habits, and hobbies are the same. Years later, the two have matured, but have maintained their friendship. Tara gets married to the local prince, Raj Singh, who soon succeeds the throne as the sole heir. After the marriage, Raj gets bored of Tara and starts seeking another female to satisfy his sexual needs. He notices Maya and is instantly attracted to her. He has her included as one of his courtesans, and is intimate with her. Watch what happens when Tara finds out and the extent she will go to keep her marriage intact. Written by rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Passion. Pleasure. Power. See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong erotic sequences, nudity and some violence | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

| | | |

Language:

|

Release Date:

28 February 1997 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Kama Sutra  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

ITL 333,148,000 (Italy) (28 February 1997)

Gross:

$4,109,095 (USA) (27 June 1997)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

When Indian authorities eventually became aware of the content of the film during shooting, the producers and the director were forced to bribe them as "protection money" to avoid prosecution. See more »

Goofs

Seconds after Maya is shown praying by standing in the river, her skirt is perfectly dry and clean. See more »

Quotes

Raj Singh: Did they not prepare you? Did they tell you never to question your husband?
See more »

Connections

Referenced in American Desi (2001) See more »

Soundtracks

"The Glory Of God Is In You"
Written and Performed by Ustad Vilayat H. Khan
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Insightful, romantic, moral tale
24 April 2005 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

Having read The Kama Sutra and having found it disappointing, I figured this late night showing couldn't be anymore disappointing than the text of the same name in translation. The subtitle, A Tale of Love, does help inform the potential viewer that this is not a hot porn flick.

The few pieces of Indian literature I have read treated love stories similarly. I was curious though, as to how the Bombay movie industry would treat this story, knowing they do no show kissing in the romantic films for domestic consumption. IMDb was the source I turned to to learn more about this film and its production. Thank you for the answers.

This movie is a fine tragedy carefully told in the context of 16th century India. It portrays a woman's plight in that time, marry or be a courtesan in a harem. By giving the women empowered roles the writers allow viewers to see that while today would would find those roles unacceptable, some women of those days could find satisfaction, if not happiness. The mistress of the courtesan school gave everyone her pupils a view of the truth and their options, even before the women were ready to see them.

The movie also contains moral lessons. Maia misuses her sexuality to her own detriment. The princess, could not buy happiness. The sculptor rejects Maia's love out of fear for loss of his independence, then gets paid back in kind.

This is a captivating story I will watch again, to catch the dialog I missed while away from the television, and I rarely watch movies twice.


27 of 37 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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