The film basically records the efforts of this woman to use her sexual attractiveness to develop a lifestyle that would be acceptable to her. In India the difficulties were greatly compounded by the additional limitations imposed by the cast system. In most parts of the world the subservient status of women at the time of this legend made it very difficult for them to establish a satisfactory lifestyle except in the traditional role of wife to the master of a family and mother to his children. It is a story about an intelligent woman born into a low cast who is the servant of a high cast compatriot betrothed to the local Raj. Ultimately the film is a Feminist Tract, which is said to be based on an Indian legend from the early sixteenth century - the period immediately after the foundation of the Mohgul (Mongol) empire in India. It is a beautiful film which was quite successful in parts of Europe and it is unfortunate that it had only a limited release in North America. Although in many ways the Hindu culture is highly erotic, eroticism is not normally featured in domestic Indian films and the Director had to recruit two British born actresses for the starring roles. Produced in India by an Indian director and production crew for the primary purpose of introducing Europeans and North Americans to some aspects of the Hindu culture, this film was never intended for domestic markets and in fact I believe that it remains banned in most parts of India. Reviewed by bbhlthph N/A A feast for the eyes and the ears