Fire

Photo: www.desivideos.net

The controversial film “Fire,” is an Indian film that was released almost twelve years ago.  Many Indians were angered by the topics that were addressed in the film.

“Fire” is the story that revolves around desire and love. The main characters in the film are Ashok, Radha (his wife), Jatin (Ashok’s brother), and Sita (Jatin’s wife). Ashok and his brother run a food store and video store and the two brothers live with their mother, Radha, and their servant. One day, Ashok advises his brother that he should get an arranged marriage to Sita. Jatin is angered by the thought of an arranged marriage, especially since he is in love with Julie, a Chinese-Indian.

Many people may not understand the concept of an arranged marriage, but coming from an Indian background, it is not something that is new to my ears. Even today, many parents or in some cases, the patriarch of the household, arranges the marriages of either the children, siblings, or extended family in the household. Additionally, most people are paired off and meet usually once or twice before they actually get married. In India, many people believe this tradition is important and you cannot date anyone, let alone chose your potential spouse.

After Jatin agrees to the arranged marriage to Sita, he continues to see his girlfriend Julie on the side. The two hate each other and even force themselves to have sex. However, the act is more displeasurable due to the hate that grows between the husband and wife. Ashok has also vowed to remain celibate and even tests his temptations by asking his wife to just lay in the bed with him. He believes by staying away from any desires or sins he will ultimately become closer to God. It is important to note that Radha cannot provide Ashok with a child, and this represents how sex is just viewed as means for procreation and not for pleasure.

Radha and Sita ultimately grow closer together and eventually develop an emotional connection with each other. Radha believes that she must keep with tradition and remain a dutiful wife. However, Sita thinks that tradition is ridiculous and does not care about duties. The two women fulfill their own desires and develop a deeper relationship that is forbidden in India. The two continue their secret “taboo” relationship behind everyone’s back, but unfortunately their live-in servant will uncover their little tryst.

Jatin, without his brother’s knowledge, sells pornographic films from the video store portion of the family business. The films are for “special customers” and the family’s male servant often masturbates while watching the films. He often does this in front of Ashok’s mother, who cannot move or speak because she has suffered from a stroke. The old woman often watches in horror, as she represents the tradition. One day, Radha catches the servant in the act, and he states that her little “hanky panky” on the side will defame the family name.

Eventually, the servant is fired and Ashok walks in on the two women. He is horrified, and Radha’s sari (Indian dress) catches on fire. Ashok lets his wife burn because he thinks she is paying for her sins. The film ends with the two women consoling each other, after they run away from the house.

Many Indian citizens did not appreciate the film. For many Indians, sexuality is something that cannot be discussed, even when it deals with heterosexuality. Homosexuality is completely taboo and this movie was the first Indian film to portray homosexuality. The film is wrapped around unfulfilled desires and controlling one’s desires to remain pure. In Indian society, people need to follow traditions and must remain dutiful to their spouses and God. Many people in India considered the film to be sinful and pornographic. The actors in the film were threatened and riots occurred in movie theatres that showed the film. Many Indians do not want to accept that homosexuality exists, even in the Indian community. I have noticed a change in Indian society from about twelve years ago. More people are open to homosexuality than before, and now many films feature heterosexual couples that are not married. Although Indian society is not completely progressive, it is rather refreshing that some changes in the public mentality has been made. Now, more Indians hare beginning to understand that it is wrong to ostracize people just because they may belong to a specific caste or are homosexual. Even though some traditions may be important for a culture, it is probably better to let go of the past to keep up with the future.

-Nidhi