Fire(1996)
Fire is a 1996 Indo-Canadian romantic drama film in Hindi, directed by Deepa Mehta. It stars Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das as two sisters-in-law. The story is set in a crowded Delhi home where both women are neglected by their husbands. They find comfort and love in each other, leading to a secret relationship. The film is loosely based on Ismat Chughtai's 1942 story 'Lihaaf'. It is the first installment of Mehta's Elements trilogy, followed by Earth (1998) and Water (2005). Fire was one of the first mainstream Bollywood films to explicitly depict a lesbian relationship. Its release in India sparked violent protests from conservative groups like Shiv Sena. The film was praised internationally for its bold storytelling and performances. It was passed uncut by India's Central Board of Film Certification with an Adult rating.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 6 September 1996
- Director
- Deepa Mehta
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 44m 0
Storyline
Radha and Sita are sisters-in-law trapped in a loveless marriage. Radha's husband Ashok has ignored her for 13 years. Sita's husband Jatin is always with his girlfriend. Lonely and desperate, the two women find love in each other. Their secret relationship threatens to destroy their family.
“Love that burns through tradition.”
Film Details
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Fire
Cast reunions in this film: Nandita Das & A. R. Rahman (2 films together).