Mississippi Masala (1991)
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- R
- 1h 58min
- Drama, Romance
- 05 Feb 1992 (USA)
- Movie
An ethnic Indian family is expelled from Idi Amin's Uganda in 1972 and lives in Mississippi 17 years later. The dad sues Uganda to get his property back. The grown daughter falls in love with a Black man.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 5 wins & 3 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Denzel Washington | ... |
Demetrius
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| Sarita Choudhury | ... |
Mina
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| Roshan Seth | ... |
Jay
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| Sharmila Tagore | ... |
Kinnu
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| Charles S. Dutton | ... |
Tyrone
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| Joe Seneca | ... |
Williben
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| Ranjit Chowdhry | ... |
Anil
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| Mohan Gokhale | ... |
Pontiac
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| Mohan Agashe | ... |
Kanti Napkin
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Tico Wells | ... |
Dexter
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Yvette Hawkins | ... |
Aunt Rose
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| Anjan Srivastav | ... |
Jammubhai
(as Anjan Srivastava)
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Dipti Suthar | ... |
Chanda
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Varsha Thaker | ... |
Kusumben
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Ashok Lath | ... |
Harry Patel
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Natalie Oliver-Atherton | ... |
Alicia LeShay
(as Natalie Oliver)
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Karen Pinkston | ... |
Mrs. Morgan
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Willy Cobbs | ... |
Skillet
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| Mira Nair | ... |
Gossip 1
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| Rajika Puri | ... |
Gossip 2
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| Sharon Williams | ... |
Tadice
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Cyreio Hughes | ... |
D.J.
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Stacy Swinford | ... |
Bubba
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Rick Senn | ... |
Piggly Wiggly Checker
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Jim Haffey | ... |
White Truck Driver
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Dillon Rozell Gross | ... |
Police Officer
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Larry Haggard | ... |
Joe
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E.W. Colvin | ... |
Grandcraw
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Joyce Murrah | ... |
Lady at Lusco's
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Kevin McNeil | ... |
Clarence
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Fred Matthews | ... |
Granddaddy
(as Reverend Fred Matthews)
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Mahlon Bouldin | ... |
Student
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Buddy St. Amant | ... |
Biloxi Cop
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James Dale | ... |
Businessman
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Ben Burford | ... |
Bank Manager
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Sam Sherrill | ... |
Phinias T. Turnbull
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Alix Henry Sanders | ... |
Barber
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Jerone Wiggins | ... |
James
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Sadie Carr | ... |
Mildred
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Richard Crick | ... |
White Customer
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Alix W. Sanders | ... |
Postman
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Shung Moo Joe | ... |
Chinese Customer
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Jaimini Thaker | ... |
Kanti Bhai
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Hollis Pippin | ... |
Sylvester Artiste III
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Dewey Buffington | ... |
Evangelist
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Tony McGhee | ... |
Rapper 1
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J.D. Barrett | ... |
Rapper 2
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Tre'Demond Spearman | ... |
Rapper 3
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Argentina Moore | ... |
Rapper 4
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Nora Boland | ... |
Shop-at-Home Anchor Person 1
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Patsy Garrett | ... |
Shop-at-Home Anchor Person 2
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Konga Mbandu | ... |
Okelo
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Sahira Nair | ... |
Young Mina
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Michael Wawuyo | ... |
Soldier on Bus
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Phavin Parbario | ... |
Young Jay
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Emanuel Mudara | ... |
Young Okelo
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Immaculate Byakatonda | ... |
Okelo's Mother
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Amrit Panesar | ... |
Mrs. Bedi
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Jimmy Din | ... |
Bharat
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Bonnie M. Lubega | ... |
Teacher
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Sammy E.D. Senkumba | ... |
Taxi Driver
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Mayambala Ssekasi | ... |
Prison Captain
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Joseph Olita | ... |
Idi Amin
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Wilberforce Muteta | ... |
Soldier at Roadblock
(as Muteta Wilberforce)
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Directed by
| Mira Nair | ||
Written by
| Sooni Taraporevala | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Lydia Dean Pilcher | ... | associate producer |
| Mitch Epstein | ... | co-producer |
| Mira Nair | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Michael Nozik | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Cherie Rodgers | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| L. Subramaniam | ||
Cinematography by
| Edward Lachman | ||
Editing by
| Roberto Silvi | ||
Editorial Department
| Antje Botschen | ... | apprentice film editor |
| Preeti Chawla | ... | apprentice film editor |
| Tula Goenka | ... | associate film editor |
| Marissa Littlefield | ... | first assistant film editor |
| Tony Mottola | ... | color timer |
| Noëlle Penraat | ... | negative matcher |
| Paige M. Sibley | ... | second assistant film editor |
| Gene Zippo | ... | color timer |
| John Dowdell | ... | colorist (uncredited) / telecine colorist (uncredited) |
| Marypat Plottner | ... | synching editor (uncredited) |
Production Design by
| Mitch Epstein | ||
Art Direction by
| Jefferson Sage | ||
Set Decoration by
| Jeanette Scott | ||
Makeup Department
| Mustaque M. Ashrafi | ... | makeup artist |
| Maxi Michael | ... | additional hair stylist |
| Edna Sheen | ... | makeup artist |
| Kenneth Walker | ... | hair stylist |
| Gloria Belz | ... | additional makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Kay Toney | ... | additional hairstylist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| John Chavanga | ... | unit manager: Uganda (as Johnny Chavanga) |
| Lydia Dean Pilcher | ... | unit production manager |
| Susan Lazarus | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Eve Silvester | ... | unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Noga Isackson | ... | second assistant director |
| Anne Olivecrona | ... | second assistant director: Uganda |
| Dinaz Stafford | ... | second second assistant director |
| Linda Wilson | ... | second second assistant director |
| Michael Zimbrich | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Jean-François Chavrier | ... | property master: Uganda |
| David Crank | ... | art director: Uganda / charge scenic |
| Jennifer DeBell | ... | second scenic artist |
| Maureen Farley | ... | property master |
| Stan Fortner | ... | construction assistant |
| Jeff Hartmann | ... | lead man |
| Mary Hilsip | ... | lead dresser: Uganda |
| Cedric Johnson | ... | set dresser |
| Fabian Mpagi Kamulu | ... | scenic artist: Uganda |
| Sam Kasirye | ... | construction coordinator: Uganda |
| Richard Kazosi | ... | set dresser: Uganda |
| John Lewis | ... | painter |
| Geoffrey Mubiru | ... | property assistant: Uganda |
| Samuel Musisi | ... | set dresser: Uganda |
| Ameeta Nanji | ... | set dresser |
| Ken Nelson | ... | construction coordinator |
| Ayesha Patel | ... | assistant set decorator |
| Hemant Patel | ... | property production assistant |
| James Sebudde | ... | set dresser: Uganda |
| Tracy Heather Strain | ... | art department coordinator |
| David Weathers | ... | set dresser |
| Greg Wilkinson | ... | property assistant |
| Robert Williams | ... | painter |
Sound Department
| Marko A. Costanzo | ... | foley walker (as Marko Costanzo) |
| Margaret Crimmins | ... | supervising sound editor (as Margie Crimmins) |
| Rick Dior | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Alex Griswold | ... | production sound mixer |
| Joshua Levin | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Julie Lindner | ... | apprentice sound editor |
| Marissa Littlefield | ... | adr editor |
| Tommy Louie | ... | boom operator |
| Sylvia Menno | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Christopher O'Donnell | ... | boom operator: Uganda (as Chris O'Donnell) |
| Mary Ellen Porto | ... | sound editor |
| Paul J. Zydel | ... | adr mixer (as Paul Zydel) |
| Pradip Routray | ... | adr recordist (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Dawn Cadena | ... | stunts |
| Bob Minor | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Napoleon Moore | ... | stunts |
| Phil Neilson | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Janet Paparazzo | ... | stunts |
| J. Suzanne Rampe | ... | stunts (as Suzanne Rampe) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Alan Barry | ... | best boy electric: Uganda |
| Richard Broome | ... | dolly grip: Uganda |
| Katherine M. Butler | ... | second assistant camera (as Kate Butler) |
| Charles Byamugishi | ... | grip: Uganda |
| David Byarugaba | ... | electrician: Uganda |
| Ted Churchill | ... | steadicam operator |
| Ray Coates | ... | generator operator: Uganda |
| Willie E. Dawkins | ... | fourth electric |
| Daniel Ehrenbard | ... | gaffer |
| Bob Frazier | ... | electrician |
| Danny Graflund | ... | grip |
| André Harris | ... | camera loader |
| John Higgins | ... | gaffer: Uganda unit |
| Birney Imes | ... | still photographer |
| Charles Kahuha Munene | ... | electrician: Uganda |
| Dan Karlok | ... | best boy electric |
| Richard C. Kerekes | ... | dolly grip |
| Chris Lombardi | ... | first assistant camera |
| Michael A. McFadden | ... | third grip |
| Lee McLemore | ... | grip |
| Paul Merwin | ... | electrician |
| Maingi Benson Ndonye | ... | electrician: Uganda |
| John Panikar | ... | still photographer |
| Daniel Pershing | ... | best boy grip (as Dan Pershing) |
| Tim Pershing | ... | key grip |
| Ahamed Sheik Omar | ... | electrician: Uganda |
| Justus Vincent 'Jacky' Tela | ... | grip: Uganda |
| Chris Thornton | ... | third electrician |
| Eric Ward | ... | dolly grip |
| Eric Wilson | ... | grip |
| Tom Zafian | ... | 24 frame video engineer |
Casting Department
| Judy Claman | ... | casting: Mississippi |
| Uma Da Cunha | ... | additional casting: Indians |
| Susie Figgis | ... | casting: London |
| David Kateete | ... | casting assistant: Uganda |
| Rupesh Manek | ... | casting assistant: Uganda |
| Elise Pittman | ... | casting assistant |
| Ranjeet Singh | ... | casting assistant: Uganda |
| Dinaz Stafford | ... | casting: Uganda |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Sharen Davis | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Ellen Lutter | ... | costume designer: Mississippi |
| Susan Lyall | ... | costume designer: Uganda |
| Winsome G. McKoy | ... | wardrobe shopper (as Winsome McKoy) |
| Rachel Namutebi | ... | wardrobe assistant: Uganda |
| Kelly O'Gurian | ... | costumer |
| Kinnari Panikar | ... | Indian costumes |
| Carolyn Greco | ... | assistant costume designer: Uganda (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Joseph Carasco | ... | location manager: Uganda |
| Maida N. Morgan | ... | assistant location manager (as Maida Morgan) |
| Sherrill Smith | ... | location assistant |
Music Department
| Glenn Aulepp | ... | music engineer |
| Adam Bartos | ... | music consultant: Mississippi |
| Christine Cholvin | ... | assistant music editor |
| Gary Denton | ... | music engineer |
| Ron Kalina | ... | musician: harmonica |
| James Makubuya | ... | musician: ugandan percussion |
| Andrea Marcelli | ... | musician: drums |
| Freddie Ravel | ... | musician: piano and synthesizers |
| Emil Richards | ... | musician: percussion |
| Thom Rotella | ... | musician: acoustic and electric guitar |
| Nyle Steiner | ... | musician: ewi |
| L. Subramaniam | ... | musicians: violin, violin synthesizers and percussions |
| Viji Subramaniam | ... | musician: vocals and tambura |
| Andy Summers | ... | musician: electric guitar |
| Sattar Tari | ... | musician: tabla |
| Vinod R. Venkataraman | ... | musician: mridangam and ghatam |
| Jerry Watts Jr. | ... | musician: bass |
Script and Continuity Department
| Nilita Vachani | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Betty Sue Bell | ... | driver |
| Mike Chitbai | ... | transportation captain: Uganda |
| Glenn Evans | ... | driver |
| Ron M. Field | ... | driver (as Ron Field) |
| Reggie Gwin | ... | driver |
| David Ivie | ... | picture car coordinator (as David Ivy) |
| Moses Kajubi | ... | driver: Uganda |
| Lawrence Kalule | ... | driver: Uganda |
| Philip Kamau | ... | transportation coordinator: Uganda |
| Joseph Katongole | ... | driver: Uganda |
| Jim Lunden | ... | driver |
| Peter Mavromates | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Sammie Pulley | ... | driver |
| Larry Robinson | ... | driver |
| Tad Russell | ... | driver |
| Tom Sabavuma | ... | driver: Uganda |
| David Scharnberg | ... | driver |
| Mahmood Sentenza | ... | driver: Uganda |
| Cliff Spivey | ... | driver |
| John Bosco Tumumwesigye | ... | driver: Uganda |
| Virgil L. Ware | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Celeste Bartos | ... | invaluable support |
| Gloria Bremer | ... | coordinator: Mirabai Films |
| Margot Bridger | ... | assistant: Michael Nozik |
| Kayla Chaillot | ... | craft service |
| Patricia Freebery | ... | new york city coordinator: Uganda |
| Rosemary Karamagi | ... | production secretary: Uganda |
| George Katamba | ... | production assistant: Uganda |
| Kenneth M. Kroll | ... | assistant auditor: Uganda (as Kenneth Kroll) |
| Mark R. Lindsay | ... | sales representative (as Mark Lindsay) |
| Hajira Majid | ... | production assistant |
| Anis Mamdani | ... | production executive: Uganda |
| Clement Mawenu | ... | production assistant: Uganda |
| Joseph Mbaziira | ... | production assistant: Uganda |
| Michael McCormick | ... | production auditor |
| Patrick McDill | ... | production assistant |
| Jennifer Meyer | ... | assistant: Michael Nozik |
| Keith Mitchell | ... | production assistant |
| Keith Mitchell | ... | production assistant |
| Eva Monley | ... | production consultant: Uganda |
| Margo Myers | ... | assistant auditor (as Margo A. Myers) |
| Ameeta Nanji | ... | title illustrator |
| Nelson Ochieng | ... | production assistant: Uganda |
| Jimmy Odongo | ... | production assistant: Uganda |
| Patricia Rodrigue | ... | production assistant |
| Doreen Shalita | ... | assistant production coordinator: Uganda |
| Madhulika Somasekhar | ... | assistant: Mira Nair |
| Buteraba Elom Tibanagwa | ... | nurse: Uganda |
| Robert Wayne Vaupel | ... | assistant production coordinator |
| Thomas Vranesich | ... | production coordinator |
| Theo Wamala | ... | production secretary: Uganda |
Production Companies
- Black River Productions
- Channel Four Films
- Cinecom Pictures
- Mirabai Films
- Movie Works
- Studio Canal Souss
Distributors
- Acteurs Auteurs Associés (AAA) (1991) (France) (theatrical)
- Janus Films (2022) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release) (limited)
- New Vision Films (1993) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Pandora Film Verleih (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Sonet Film (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (1993) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Cannon/VMP (1992) (Germany) (VHS)
- Fox Video (1994) (Australia) (VHS)
- Laurenfilm (Spain)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
- The Samuel Goldwyn Company (1992) (United States)
- Universum Film (UFA) (2005) (Germany) (DVD) (Special Edition)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Balsmeyer and Everett (title design: end titles)
- Balsmeyer and Everett (titles)
- Centre for Basic Research, Kampala (uganda research)
- Clein & White (unit publicity)
- Simon/Kumin Casting (casting: New York)
- Stagg Street Studios (Music recorded at)
- The Effects House (opticals)
- Todd-AO Studios (West) (post-production facilities)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
An Indian family is expelled from Uganda when Idi Amin takes power. They move to Mississippi and time passes. The now-adult Indian daughter meets and falls in love with a Black man, and the respective families are forced to come to terms with it in the climate of racial hatred.
Written by Ed Sutton |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Passion. Tradition. Mix It Up. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Box Office
| Budget | $5,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Ben Kingsley was originally cast in the role of Mina's father, but he eventually withdrew from the project, prompting the original backers of the film to pull out. Nair was able to gain new funding after Denzel Washington was chosen for the role of Demetrius. She later mentioned she faced substantial pressure from potential backers to select white leads rather than Indians or African Americans See more » |
| Goofs | The Tri-color Flag of India is shown upside down, while it is being taken down when Jay & Kinnu are meeting Okello for the Last time. Green color is shown at top, which, actually is at the bottom & Orange being at top. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Freejack/Until the End of the World/Juice/The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Mera Joota Hai Japani See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The following appears at the end of the credits: Hakuna Matata "No Problem", in Kiswahili See more » |
| Quotes |
Okelo:
You gave an interview on BBC saying that Amin was evil. Are you mad? What about Kinnu? What about Mina? Do you ever think of them? Jay: What should I have done? Remain silent? That is the coward's way! Okelo: Don't talk to me about cowards! That's what you are. You're not leaving because you're scared to leave. You are scared of leaving Uganda. Jay: Why should I go? Why should I go? Okelo, this is my home. Okelo: Not anymore, Jay. Africa is for Africans. *Black* Africans. See more » |