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The color red is as much a character in this powerful feminist tale as Sonbai (Smita Patil), a feisty village woman who stands firm against the lustful advances of a tax collector (Naseeruddin Shah) in colonial India. Enraged by Sonbai’s rejection, the tax collector threatens to destroy the village. The villagers pressure Sonbai to give in, to avoid dire consequences. Despite the patriarchy, misogyny, and caste discrimination faced by the village women, they come together in a moment of sisterhood to protect Sonbai in one of the most stunning climaxes of Indian cinema.

Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.

1987 | 118 min | India | Color | Hindi | Not rated | DCP

DIRECTED BY: Ketan Mehta

WRITTEN BY: Ketan Mehta, Shafi Hakim

WITH: Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Suresh Oberoi