Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love | | Cast : | Sarita Choudhury, Naveen Andrews | | Director : | Mira Nair | | Studio : | Vidmark/Trimark | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby, Widescreen | | Released Date : | February 28, 1997 | | DVD Released Date : | June 30, 1998 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | Unrated | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 30, 2005 | | Summary | Kama Sutra: sensuous eye candy | Content
 | "Kama Sutra" is a a beautiful, sensuous film directed by "Monsoon Wedding" and "Vanity Fair" director Mira Nair. The story revolves around Maya (Indira Varma). Maya grows up in a lower caste unlike her best friend Tara (Sarita Chodhury) who is born into a wealthy, privileged family. After being humilated in public by Tara, Maya takes it upon herself by seducing her soon-to-be ex-bestfriend's future husband Raj (Naveen Andrews) on the night of the wedding. When Tara's brother catches the couple in their tent together, he exposes all which leads to Maya going into exile.
Maya meets up with an artist Jai Kumar (Ramon Tikarum). He later introduces her to Rasa Devi (Rekha) who teaches the philosophies of the kama sutra to a group of young women. When Jai initially pushes Maya away when she declares that she is in love with him, Maya turns to Raj and becomes his royal courtesan. This makes Raj's wife and Maya's former best friend Tara insanely jealous and insecure.
I enjoyed this film. I loved the lush scenery and the beautiful costumes. I thought the love scenes were done tastefully and without being explicit for the sake of being explicit. While there wasn't really much of a plot, I still thought the writing was entertaining. One of my favorite scenes was when Maya went with Jai to a brothel dressed up as a man.
After seeing the stunning Indira Varma in "Bride and Prejudice" earlier this year, I have been curious about her film work. I think it is funny that she and Naveen Andrews would later work together in that film after "Kama Sutra". It was real interesting how their relationship in "Kama Sutra" differed (greatly) from their characters' relationship in "Bride and Prejudice".
My only issue with the film is the way that it ended. I do not care for films that leave on an open note. I feel so unsatisfied when films end without any closure but that is probably what Mira Nair wanted. All in all, I liked "Kama Sutra". The entire cast was great. They all put in excellent performances. It wasn't too long, nor was it too short. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 20, 2005 | | Summary | Do not be deceived by the title... | Content
| Perhaps I would have enjoyed this film better had it been titled differently. No, I didn't rent it hoping it would be softcore porn film. Instead, I was expecting the story to be interwoven with the philosophies behind the original Kama Sutra and the ways these are used by the characters in their relationships. This is strongly hinted at in the trailers and preview for the film, in which Maya says that if she cannot use the Kama Sutra "on the one she loves, she will use it on the one she hates." The film actually reveals very little about the Kama Sutra, despite promises scattered throughout the film. This in itself was a big dissapointment. The film is very erotic and sensual, however, sure to offend some viewers. But what keeps the film from being excellent are two things. First, much of it is painfully obvious though it's trying for subtle, and second, the central conflict (Maya vs. Tara) is never fully explored. A longer film could have given ample time to exploring their conflict as well as developing the two girls' individual stories. It still gets 3 stars however for being absolutely visually sumptuous and conveying enough emotion to the viewer to be affective and, perhaps, remembered. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 23, 2005 | | Summary | Tapestry come to life | Content
| Visually entrancing, spectacular colors, exotic scenery. The nudity is so closely woven into the narrative that it does not even appear erotic, just natural. For all it's splendor, the movie lacked that kick-in-the-gut level of denouement that I look for in a truly great movie, or it would have been a five.
If you are looking for a movie on sexual positions, this is not for you, but if you are "open-minded" you will be rewarded in other ways. :) |
| Rating | | | Date | December 29, 2004 | | Summary | A tale of love about the art of love | Content
| Hotter than "Fire", but without the same depth of emotion and not much of a story line, Kama Sutra comes over as a beautiful art movie, with magnificent scenery, brilliant color, and maximum use of nature, light and texture. Yes, there are also love scenes that are not for the prudish, and some full frontal female nudity and bare backsides, but in essence it is a story of love and loss and debauchery and death.
Indira Varma is captivating as the servant girl Maya, portraying her as young, flirtatious and resilient, while at the same time, regal and vulnerable. Her lovely eyes speak volumes, and there are entire scenes that are conveyed without the need for dialogue.
Sarita Choudhury plays a major supporting role as Tara, the intended bride of Raj Singh (Naveen Andrews). Although a lifelong friend of Maya, she turns on her in a fit of jealousy when the Raj lets his gaze wander to Maya on their very first meeting, and her reaction causes Maya to flee the room in shame.
Seeking revenge, Maya makes a pre-marital visit to the Raj, and gives herself to him in a performance that he never forgets.
She however forgets that people who live in transparent tents shouldn't fool around, and when the night's events are disclosed by Tara's humpbacked peeping tom of a brother, whom Maya has rejected outright as a husband, she has no choice but to leave her home as a fallen woman.
Unlike the popular advertisement however, she is able to get up, and thanks to the artistic skill of a stone carver Jai Kumar (Ramon Tikaram) and the friendship and teaching of Rasa Devi, (Screen legend Rehka) teacher of the Kama Sutra, she finds new confidence and a whole new attitude. She falls for Jai big time, but unfortunately for him, he doesn't react well to unconditional love and chases her straight into the open arms of Raj Singh as his #1 favorite courtesan.
Tara is now living the life of the neglected wife of a debauched husband, and has a disastrous wedding night when he calls her another woman's name. Her unhappiness is aggravated when she discovers Maya lolling off in a hot tub at the palace, and unable to cope with her situation decides on a drastic course of action.
Raj is by now totally obsessed with Maya, and when he discovers that his stone carver friend and his number one girl have not only rekindled the flames, but are busy fanning them when he's not around, he goes berserk, and orders the appropriate punishment for Jai.
To close things off, while Raj has been partying, his kingdom has been falling, and you don't need a fat lady singing to tell you that it's over for him.
Excellent performances by Indira Varma, Sarita Choudhury and Rekha make this movie worthwhile, and the attention to detail by Mira Nair makes for beautiful watching.
Amanda Richards, December 29, 2004
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| Rating | | | Date | November 22, 2004 | | Summary | about the movie Karma Sutra........ | Content
| The story is basically about a guru telling his diciples that it is a normal oor natural issue for sexual issue between man and woman. The word Karma Sutra comes from the Ancient folklore of India means SEX which one can find the word Karma Sutra on the fromt cover of Anna Hooper's pocket book of Karma Sutra by DK (Dorlington Kin...) reference guide for couples. Playboy site also contains films that follow Anna Hooper's book especially the education sex section in playboy website which is passed by MPAA (Motion Picture Association Of America). This film is talking about the terms Karma Sutra and hope that buyers whom are interested in this films will find it useful. This film, what I can say, is nothing very sexual about it and it is more informative, that's all. I hope the recommendation could help the sale of this DVD and at the same time let interested buyers know what they want and what they are looking for. Enjoy...
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