Producer: David Hamilton
Director: Deepa Mehta
Cast: John Abraham, Lisa Ray, Seema Biswas, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Waheeda Rehman, Raghuvir Yadav, Vinay Pathak, Rishma Malik
Music:  Rahman A R

‘Water’ the third film to complete the trilogy of Deepa Mehta after ‘Fire’ and ‘Earth’. The film was supposed to start shooting in India in February 2000. But after volatile protests from the Hindu purists at Benaras, the shooting for the film was shelved.  The shooting was carried on in Sri Lanka secretively.

The film ‘Water’ is about Indian widows in the era 1930. It’s a true depiction of the state of affairs during that time. The ritual that the film depicts was very much prominent during that time. The women of those days were married at an early age to old male due to economic reasons. (Child marriages are still very much prominent in India at the present days too.) As their husband used to die early, they were forced to enter widow houses and ashram on turning widows. This was done because they were thought to be worthless without their husband. They had to live life of hardship and had to turn to begging and prostitution to survive. John Abraham plays an idealist law graduate, and follower of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Quit India Movement’, who is in love with a young widow played by Lisa Ray a widow in the film. John ignores the cultural taboos and fulfills his desire to marry Lisa Ray.

The pivotal role in the film is played by John Abraham, Lisa Ray, Seema Biswas, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Waheeda Rehman, Raghuvir Yadav and Baby Sarala. There is news that Deepa Mehta will be repeating John Abraham after ‘Water’ in her forthcoming film too. Her next venture will be ‘Komgatha Maru’. John was very excited to bag the opportunity to work with Deepa Mehta in ‘Water’. He nodded to do the film instantly after Deepa narrated him the script. He will also work for ‘Komgatha Maru’ if he has dates free because it is a big project.

The film premiered at the 30th annual Toronto International Film Festival where it was showered with accolades.