Date: 1998

Region: Asia

Subject: Sexual/Gender Orientation, Political/Economic/Social Opinion

Medium: Film Video


Artist: Deepa Mehta


Confronting Bodies: India's Hindu Shiv Sena party and Indian censors


Dates of Action: December, 1998


Location: New Delhi, Bombay, Surat and Pune, India


Description of Artwork: Mehta's film, Fire is about a love affair between two sisters-in-law.

The Incident: The film was removed from theaters in the cities of New Delhi, Bombay, Surat and Pune after members of the Shiv Sena party attacked the facilities.

Results of Incident: The Junior information and Broadcasting Minister, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, decided to review the film and decide whether or not it should be banned.

Source: Index on Censorship, 1/99