Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love

Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMira Nair
Written byMira Nair
Screenplay byMira Nair
Story byHelena Kriel
Mira Nair
Based on"Utran"
by Wajida Tabassum
Produced byCaroline Baron
Lydia Dean Pilcher
Mira Nair
Starring
CinematographyDeclan Quinn
Edited byKristina Boden
Music byMychael Danna
Production
companies
Distributed byTrimark Pictures
Release dates
Running time
117 minutes
Countries
  • India
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
  • Japan[1]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3 million[2]
Box office$8.6 million[2]

Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love is a 1996 Indian historical erotic romance film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Mira Nair. The first portion of the film is based on "Utran" ("Hand Me Downs"), a short story in Urdu by the Indian writer Wajida Tabassum.[3] The film takes its title from the ancient Indian text, the Kama Sutra. It stars Naveen Andrews, Sarita Choudhury, Ramon Tikaram, Rekha and Indira Varma.[4] The English-language film was produced by Indian, British, German and Japanese studios.

Declan Quinn won the 1998 Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for his work in the film.[5] Kama Sutra was nominated for the Golden Seashell award at the 1996 San Sebastián International Film Festival and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.[6] The film generated controversy at the time of its release and was banned in India due to its erotic theme and sexual content.[7][8]

  1. ^ "Kama Sutra A Tale of Love (1997)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1997)". JP's Box-Office. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  3. ^ Muir, John Kenneth (2006). Mercy in Her Eyes: The Films of Mira Nair. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-1-55783-649-6.
  4. ^ "Seduction, A Skill That Gets Results". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  5. ^ Welkos, Robert W. (22 March 1998). "Apostle Takes Top Honors at Independent Spirit Awards". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  6. ^ "INDIA: SHOOTING BEGINS ON KAMA SUTRA MOVIE – AP Archive". Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  7. ^ "9 films banned in India that you will really want to watch". India Today. 3 June 2015. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Movies that banned by Indian Censor Board, but viewers loved them". Daily Pakistan Global. Archived from the original on 17 July 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2018.