Mirch Masala (1986)

In colonial India, subedars (tax collectors) went from village to village with soldiers, often demanding more than taxes. A subedar commands Sonbai, a beautiful and confident woman whose ... See full summary »

Director:

Ketan Mehta

Writers:

Shafi Hakim, Hriday Lani

Stars:

Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri

7 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Smita Patil	...	Sonbai
Naseeruddin Shah	...	Subedar
Om Puri	...	Chowkidar Abu Miya
Ratna Pathak Shah	...	Pepper Factory Worker (as Ratna Pathak)
Supriya Pathak	...	Pepper factory worker
Suresh Oberoi	...	Mukhiya
Neena Kulkarni	...	Pepper factory worker
Ram Gopal Bajaj	...	Owner of the Pepper factory
Benjamin Gilani	...	Masterji
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mohan Gokhale	...	Villager
Deepti Naval	...	Saraswati, Mukhiya's wife
Harish Patel	...	Pandit
Dina Pathak	...	Maanki, factory worker
Paresh Rawal	...	Villager

Storyline

In colonial India, subedars (tax collectors) went from village to village with soldiers, often demanding more than taxes. A subedar commands Sonbai, a beautiful and confident woman whose husband is away in the city, to sleep with him. She slaps him and flees for safety to a spice factory where women grind chillies into fine powder. The aged factory guard, Abu Mian, locks the door behind her, refusing to open it to the soldiers, to the cowardly village men led by the mayor, and to the subedar himself. The town's teacher, who follows Gandhi, and a few women, led by the mayor's wife, protest ineffectually against this village-approved rape. The stage is set for a final confrontation.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | village | tax collector | spice factory | guard | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mirch Masala is the only movie which features the mother-daughter trio, Dina Pathak, Supriya Pathak and Ratna Pathak. The film also features Naseeruddin Shah and Raj Babbar (in a guest appearance), husbands of Ratna Pathak and Smita Patil respectively.

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Connections

Referenced in Homestarrunner.com: Everything Else, Volume 3 (2007)

User Reviews

An inspiring socialist-feminist tale

Set somewhere in Rajputana / northern Madhya Pradesh in central India between the two World Wars, this movie depicts the sordid daily humiliation and exploitation heaped upon villagers by an over-mighty landlord (Zamindar). When his attention focusses on the women, they unite and fight back, to the shame of their feeble husbands. Starring Naseeruddin Shah - a leading dramatic actor - in one of his more devlish roles. An historical epic as well as a manifesto for the liberation of the oppressed in rural India.

Details

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Release Date:

13 February 1987 (India)

Also Known As:

Spices

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color