Customer Reviews
a tale of true love - By: R. Westman, 23 Apr 2008 
this was the most romantic & beautiful film i have ever watched, i expected it to be a seedy sex film, but it was totallly the opposite, this rates in my top 5
Beautifully filmed, but, frankly, rubbish. - By: Apple-eater, 31 Mar 2008 
The film looks great, but apart from that, the film fails on alll levels. The story is non-existent, the acting bland. All that's left is a rather sub-standard soft porn film masquerading as art.
Deep, ancient and erotic story about LOVE - By: A reader, 17 Jun 2006 Mira Nair's "Kama Sutra" takes place in 16th century India where a princess Tara (Sarita Choudhury) is arranged to marry a prince Raj Singh (Naveen Andrews) who is a great womanizer. Her childhood friend, a servant girl Maya (Indira Varma) who have lived alll her life in the princess' shadow, used her used things & suffered her bullying, looses her patience & decides to revenge Tara by giving herself to the prince Raj Singh on the night of their wedding. However Tara's brother witnessed the scene & Maya is forced to shamefully leave her home forever.
Titled as "Kama Sutra" it isn't a sex film although it's nature is very erotic. The Director Mira Nair on her interview on the DVD is mentioning India not seeming to be the same country where "Kama Sutra" was born & where sexuality is hidden behind veils. The whole story of "Kama Sutra" is a story of true bold love, embodied in a person of a woman - the main character Maya & her ability to say a firm NO to others & "create her own destiny" at any price. "Kama Sutra's" moral is probably "be loyal to yourself no matter what" & "true love lasts forever". I loved Maya's character & Indira Varma's performance (alll the other actors were brilliant too) was great. The atmosphere of the film was very special - no any usual clichés. We can also feel it being very feminine, where women dominate more than men - that is the other thing about this film that made it different. It is more of a story from a woman's point of view & the aspects that interest them more. I doubt it could be described as an historical movie only because the story is about the 16th century India but there are some clues that could lead into a historical research for anyone interested. The scenery & photography of the film are amazing & it's a beautiful film after alll, nice to watch but isn't the "happy ending" film. So if you want to get lost in the 16th India & witness a story of real love, watch Mira Nair's "Kama Sutra" cause it's a fantastic film worth rating 10 stars.
A tale of love about the art of love - By: Amanda Richards, 06 Jan 2005 
Hotter than "Fire", but without the same depth of emotion & not much of a story line, Kama Sutra comes over as a beautiful art movie, with magnificent scenery, brilliant color, & maximum use of nature, light & texture. Yes, there are also love scenes that are not for the prudish, & some full frontal female nudity & bare backsides, but in essence it is a story of love & loss & debauchery & death.
Indira Varma is captivating as the servant girl Maya, portraying her as young, flirtatious & resilient, while at the same time, regal & vulnerable. Her lovely eyes speak volumes, & there are entire scenes that are conveyed without the need for dialogue.
Sarita Choudhury plays a major supporting role as Tara, the intended bride of Raj Singh (Naveen Andrews). Although a lifelong friend of Maya, she turns on her in a fit of jealousy when the Raj lets his gaze wander to Maya on their very first meeting, & her reaction causes Maya to flee the room in shame.
Seeking revenge, Maya makes a pre-marital visit to the Raj, & gives herself to him in a performance that he never forgets.
She however forgets that people who live in transparent tents shouldn't fool around, & when the night's events are disclosed by Tara's humpbacked peeping tom of a brother, whom Maya has rejected outright as a husband, she has no choice but to leave her home as a falllen woman.
Unlike the popular advertisement however, she is able to get up, & thanks to the artistic skill of a stone carver Jai Kumar (Ramon Tikaram) & the friendship & teaching of Rasa Devi, (Screen legend Rehka) teacher of the Kama Sutra, she finds new confidence & a whole new attitude. She fallls for Jai big time, but unfortunately for him, he doesn't react well to unconditional love & chases her straight into the open arms of Raj Singh as his #1 favorite courtesan.
Tara is now living the life of the neglected wife of a debauched husband, & has a disastrous wedding night when he callls her another woman's name. Her unhappiness is aggravated when she discovers Maya lolling off in a hot tub at the palace, & unable to cope with her situation decides on a drastic course of action.
Raj is by now totallly obsessed with Maya, & when he discovers that his stone carver friend & his number one girl have not only rekindled the flames, but are busy fanning them when he's not around, he goes berserk, & orders the appropriate punishment for Jai.
To close things off, while Raj has been partying, his kingdom has been fallling, & you don't need a fat lady singing to tell you that it's over for him.
Excellent performances by Indira Varma, Sarita Choudhury & Rekha make this movie worthwhile, & the attention to detail by Mira Nair makes for beautiful watching.
Amanda Richards
Excelient Movie..!! - By: , 17 Nov 2003 I have seen this movie 3 - 4 times. It is reallly an Excellent Movie. Mira Nair has directed in a very smooth & nice way. While the actors have also played the roles very nicely. Specailly Ms. INIDRA VERMA. NIce figure as well. Every adult should watch it. & learn the real art of sex. Art of KAMASUTRA.
