Water (2005 film)

Water is a 2005 Canadian drama film written and directed by Deepa Mehta. It is the third film in Mehta's "Elements Trilogy," preceded by Fire (1996) and Earth (1998).

The film is set in 1938 British India and explores the lives of widows at an ashram in Varanasi, India. It focuses on the character of Chuyia, a young girl widowed at the age of eight, who is forced to live in the ashram. The film depicts the hardships, social stigma, and exploitation faced by these women within a patriarchal society. It also examines themes of forbidden love, religious hypocrisy, and the impact of Mahatma Gandhi's burgeoning independence movement on traditional Hindu culture.

The film stars Seema Biswas, Lisa Ray, John Abraham, and Sarala Kariyawasam as Chuyia. Water faced significant controversy and opposition from religious groups in India, who protested its depiction of Hinduism and the treatment of widows. Production was initially halted in 2000 due to violent protests and arson. Filming was eventually completed in Sri Lanka under the working title "River Moon."

Water premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2005 and received critical acclaim. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 79th Academy Awards, representing Canada. It won several other awards, including the Genie Award for Best Motion Picture.