To be honest, I didn’t know it was lost. Apparently however, “ownership complications made the movie unviewable for years.” The last I remember, it was playing on cable, maybe HBO or something along those lines. I don’t know how accurate that memory is since it was so long ago, but I do clearly recall watching Mississippi Masala (multiple times) and loving it. Add this to the list of reasons why sometimes you just need to buy a physical copy. Believe me when I say I don’t want to be a hoarder but technology is forcing my hand.
The 1991 romance Mississippi Masala was director Mira Nair’s second film, after the Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay! Beautifully shot, sexy, and funny (Nair wrote the screenplay with longtime collaborator Sooni Taraporevala), the movie was a minor indie hit, thanks to its unpolished warmth—plus the chemistry of its stars, Sarita Choudhury and Denzel Washington. Unfortunately, ownership complications have made it unviewable for years. Contemporary audiences will finally get a chance to see this charmer, as a new restoration is opening this week in New York before rolling out nationwide, and a Criterion Collection edition will follow in May.
You Can Finally Watch the Long-Lost Indie That Showed Denzel Washington at Peak Hotness - slate.com