Mississippi Masala

Friday, April 15 - Thursday, May 26, 2022

Q&A with star Sarita Choudhury following the 7:05pm screening on Friday, April 15

Nair’s follow-up to her breakthrough Salaam Bombay! is a luminous look at love in the modern melting pot. Years after her Indian family fled their home in Uganda, twentysomething Mina (Sarita Choudhury, in her debut) helps run a motel in the deep South. But a passionate romance with Demetrius (Denzel Washington) challenges the prejudices of their conservative families and exposes the rifts between the region’s Indian and African American communities. Tackling thorny issues of racism, colorism, culture clash, and displacement with big-hearted humor and keen insight, Nair serves up a sweet, sexy and radical celebration of love’s power to break down barriers. 

“One of Denzel Washington’s loveliest and most under-seen romances… Exactly the kind of movie that deserves to be rediscovered today: a wholly original story.” – Caroline Siede, AV Club

Best Screenplay and Audience Award for Best Film, Venice Film Festival

All screenings preceded by special pre-recorded Mira Nair intro.

• Year 1991
• Running Time 118 minutes
• Distributor Janus
• Director Mira Nair
• Cast Sarita Choudhury, Denzel Washington
• Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.