Fire (1997): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Fire is a 1997 romantic drama directed by Deepa Mehta, starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $16.2 million worldwide. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- Deepa Mehta
- Original language
-
Hindi - Studio
- Zeitgeist Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Fire About?
The premise of Fire without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Two women in India, Sita and Radha, seek comfort and understanding as they navigate difficult marriages. Sita endures a cruel arranged marriage, while Radha is constrained by her husband's strict beliefs. Their connection deepens as they confront the unhappiness in their relationships and explore an unexpected path toward freedom and love, offering each other strength and a chance at a different kind of life.
Fire Cast
Shabana Azmi leads the cast, with Nandita Das. Directed by Deepa Mehta.
-
Director Deepa Mehta
Fire Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Fire 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 89% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 81%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 64 Metascore
User score 7.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB
Fire Plot Summary
What happens in Fire from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Radha appears in a field of mustard with her parents, and the film opens with her mother recounting a fable about someone who longs to see the ocean. Radha listens, but she quietly questions the moral of the tale, hinting at a restlessness that will echo throughout the story. The narrative then cuts to a much later moment, when a newlywed woman named Sita begins her honeymoon with her husband, Jatin, a man whose interest in her seems to flicker and fade. Jatin lives in a crowded joint family: his elder brother Ashok, Radha’s sister-in-law, a paralysed mother named Biji, and Mundu, the family’s loyal servant. The store they run—part grocery, part video rental—serves as the backdrop for a life that feels tethered to routine and obligation rather than affection.
Full summary
The whole story of Fire, scene by scene
Fire Box Office
Fire grossed $16.2 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$16.2M
- US & Canada
- $16.2M
Fire Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Fire.
How Well Do You Know Fire?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the newlywed woman who begins the story?
Cars in Fire
8 cars on screen, including the Bajaj Chetak and the Bajaj Chetak.
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Bajaj Chetak Background role -
Bajaj Chetak Background role -
Hindustan Ambassador MkIV Background role -
Royal Enfield Bullet Background role
Fire Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “Phāyar” and “Phayar”.
- Also known as
-
- Phāyar
- Phayar
- 炎の二人
- 火
- 파이어
- Fuego
- Fire – Wenn Liebe Feuer fängt
- Огонь
- Fogo e Desejo
- Tűz
- 불
- 爱火
Seen Fire?
Fire FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Fire, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Fire?
Fire runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was Fire released?
Fire was released on August 22, 1997.
Who directed Fire?
Fire was directed by Deepa Mehta.
More films by Deepa Mehta Who is in the cast of Fire?
Fire stars Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das.
How much did Fire make at the box office?
Fire grossed $16.2 million worldwide.
How is Fire rated?
Fire has 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
Does Fire have a post-credit scene?
No. Fire has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Fire in?
The original language of Fire is Hindi.
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