Problematizing Mississippi Masala:

Mississippi Masala by Mira Nair tries to convey the complications of cross-racial interactions and even some inherent racisms people of color communities pose.  I do believe though, that the important underlying concepts about race and the implications of colorism and people’s forced removal are overshadowed by the concept of [romantic] love; Mississippi Masala definitely followed the ‘love fixes/overcomes all’ narrative.

This film has motifs similar to the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ narrative wherein boy meets girl and falls in love, however the two families collide, and in this particular situation due to racial conflicts.  The film primarily followed the love story between Demetrius and Meena, and shifted its focus [very quickly] away from Indians forced removal from Uganda.  Furthermore, although Demetrius pointed out a very special concept when he mentions to the father that ‘he is only a few shades lighter’ and that he has his own personal struggles as a black working man in Mississippi, the film does not very much convey struggles of black folk in Mississippi.

Lastly, the ending of the film seemed to ‘resolve’ all of the conflicts in the film, which in my opinion never happens in reality.  Meena’s father seemed to acquire closure after trying to say goodbye to his departed friend; Demetrius father and Meena’s mother seemed to be very okay with their children’s quick decision to leave Mississippi without much travel equipment or clothes with them; and both Meena and Demetrius seemed to forget all of the family conflicts they had because their ‘love conquered all.’