Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- sensual
- lush
- melodramatic
- arthouse film night
- historical romance night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film visually lush and refreshingly female-centered in its treatment of sensuality, but considered its plotting silly and disappointing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Maya and Tara's desires, rivalry, and intimate social world drive the film, while Rasa Devi teaches the Kama Sutra as a source of female knowledge.
Raj Singh's position as prince and king allows him to take Maya as a courtesan while Tara struggles to preserve her status and marriage.
The film emphasizes lush costumes, palace interiors, decorative textures, and choreographed erotic encounters.
Tara and Maya begin as inseparable friends, but Raj's attraction to Maya destabilizes their bond and Tara's marriage.
Films like Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, and why
The Last Emperor
sensual period romance centered on female desire, social hierarchy, and forbidden intimacy
The Lover
lush historical setting, erotic intrigue, and women navigating restrictive power structures
Dangerous Beauty
stylized erotic romance shaped by class divisions, betrayal, and passionate transgression
The Handmaiden
female-centered sensuality and sumptuous period visual design within a socially restrictive culture
Movie Details
- Director
- Mira Nair
- Release Date
- 1997-02-28
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (188)
Cast
- Indira Varma
- Sarita Choudhury
- Ramon Tikaram
- Naveen Andrews
- Rekha
- Khalid Tyabji
- Arundathi Nag
- Surabhi Bhansali
- Garima Dhup
- Pearl Padamsee
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love about?
- In sumptuous historic India, a queen and her closest friend are pulled into a dangerous triangle of desire, status, and marital betrayal.
- What is Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love as mild.
- What did critics think of Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love?
- Critics generally found the film visually lush and refreshingly female-centered in its treatment of sensuality, but considered its plotting silly and disappointing.
- Which films are like Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Emperor, The Lover, Dangerous Beauty, and The Handmaiden.
- How long is Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love?
- Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love?
- In United States, Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
