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Indira Varma, Sarita Choudhury, Ramon Tikaram, Naveen Andrews, Rekha ... see more see more... , Ranjit Chowdhry , Arundhati Rao

In this visually striking saga of one woman's search for personal and sexual freedom in 16th century India, Maya (Indira Varma) is a servant girl who is a handmaid to Tara (Sarita Choudhury), a prince... read more read more...ss. Maya and Tara have been close friends since childhood, and when Rasa Devi (Rekha), an elegant courtesan, is brought in to instruct Tara in the lessons of the Kama Sutra, the handbook of the art of physical love, Maya is allowed to observe. Rasa teaches Tara the Dance of Enticement as a prelude to her upcoming marriage to the King, Raj Singh (Naveen Andrews), but the beautiful Maya turns out to be the more capable student, and when Raj invites Maya to his bedchamber, he proves to be no match for her seductive powers. Needless to say, Tara is furious when she learns that Maya has stolen Raj's heart, and Maya is banished from the palace. On the road, Maya soon meets a handsome sculptor, Jai Kumar (Ramon Tikaram), who is entranced by Maya's beauty and sexual prowess; she soon becomes his lover and favorite model. However, King Raj is still obsessed with Maya, and while Tara has won his hand in marriage, he has taken to drowning himself in opium and mindless sex with his mistresses when not trying to win Maya back. Several of the erotic scenes in Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love were trimmed so the film could receive an "R" rating for its American theatrical release, but it appeared uncut on home video; the film had to be trimmed more extensively to gain a theatrical release in India, where it was filmed. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

7,712 ratings

Critics

40% liked it

20 critics

R, 1 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Mira Nair

Release Date: September 11, 1996

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DVD Release Date: May 26, 1998

Stats: 502 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (502)

  • matertenebraum
    December 19, 2009
    matertenebraum
    Its probably hard to take a subject like the Kama Sutra and distill it into a good movie that's not rated X. That being said, this movie does a good job at creating a plot around a tale of forbidden love that is set in an India of ages past.

    The staging and art direction are all... read more well done-- and one certainly gets a sense of the opulence of India, simply through the luxuriant costume design that pops up in every scene. Where the movie has problems is that the protagonists are attractive, but not compelling as actors. We feel pity for their plight as part of a caste, but the villains are so equally cardboard that its hard to feel much empathy for anyone in this movie. The other curious aspect of this movie is the ending-- which isn't happy... and seems more a statement on the caste system itself. The feminism of the main character in the final scenes seems quite absurd, but perhaps that is just the nature of this difficult to adapt material.
  • arashxak
    December 13, 2008
    arashxak
    I just couldn't care less about these characters
  • Redlats
    September 14, 2007
    Redlats
    The movie is a competition between best friends Maya and Tara. Tara marries the king and Maya becomes the king's courtesan.
  • mvieaddict
    July 4, 2009
    mvieaddict
    This film was the story of two girls who were inseparable at childhood. One was a princess and the other was the daughter of a servant. The servant girl, Maya, was more beautiful and a talented dancer. When Maya's beauty attracts the notice of the King, Maya was driven from her h... read moreome. But their paths crossed again and this time Maya holds the power. She became involved in a love affair with a handsome sculptor who had ties with the King. There were a lot of sex scenes, but they were tastefully done and expressed the character's emotions..

    Full of beautiful pictures and sensuous music, this is a wonderful film that gave a picture of very different way of life, specially for India.There were few scenes of nudity that were erotic and important to the plot. With good-looking women that can keep men interested too.

    I liked this film, specially because there was no dancing part, as we are used to have in all Indian films. (ridiculous)
  • donnarenee2006
    November 2, 2008
    donnarenee2006
    What a love story. This was the best movie that I seen and the tale was beautiful and endearing. Story of Maya who is forever in the shadows of the Princess Tara, from childhood to adults, becomse the object of Tara's newly wedded Prince. After her revenge of seducing he prince, ... read moreMaya is forced to leave the palace where she befriends the local sculptor where they began a love affair of their own. A beautiful movie and the actors are wonderfully cast in this romantic movie.
  • ileo
    December 16, 2007
    ileo
    Great movie!
  • FanGirl
    January 14, 2007
    FanGirl
    In case you were wondering, NO this is NOT a porno. A beautiful and sensual film.
  • anthonyzigos
    October 27, 2011
    anthonyzigos
    Having never read the Kama Sutra, I don't know if this movie is somehow linked with it, though I wouldn't be surprised if it were. This movie is an outstanding historical film, and it exudes an exotic raw sexuality that is most unusual to encounter in historical dramas. The film'... read mores main theme has to do with the difference between love and lust and the morality of both types of human sexuality. And, the message given in the movie seems most sensible, with a final position of valuing each of them, though valuing love more. This is a most unusual point of view to encounter in Western movies, and it was very surprising to encounter in this film, though it was a most refreshing and honest experience of another possible ethic. The scenery and cinematography in this film were stunningly beautiful, and this makes the theme and plot deliciously seductive. After watching the movie you feel as if you have lived a few hours in a historical India. The story doesn't, I think, give any answers to one of humankind's most difficult moral dilemmas, but it does show that ethical choices are best left to the individual, and should not be decided for them. Another question, though only faintly addressed in the film, is what exactly composes an intrusion of power upon this decision. Since the movie is a historical drama, it touches mainly upon the most clear situation only. And, as great films do, it makes the audience partake of both types of human emotion simply by watching.
  • Hamee
    November 6, 2010
    Hamee
    A beautiful story that I wish had a happier ending. At least the rotten king gets what is coming to him in the end.
  • SDphotoggirl
    September 14, 2010
    SDphotoggirl
    Goodness...Naveen Andrews is in thsi movie. It is all about sex set in 16th century India. Much amusement can be had watching this because it is sexy but doesn't carry the sex to extremes.

View All Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
April 5, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Mira Nair's film fails as a melodrama as well as erotic fantasy; the sexul material had to be toned down due to censorship. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
August 4, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Kama Sutra, while easy to look at, is even easier to laugh at. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 4, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

It all seemed inane. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 26, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Celebrates women's sexuality as a liberating and healing force. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Todd McCarthy
October 18, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Edward Guthmann
June 18, 2002
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 22, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Kevin Thomas
February 14, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

January 1, 2000
Houston Chronicle

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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