After a sluggish beginning, this Indian film develops into a fascinating and well-crafted story that builds to a brilliant climax. Rather inappropriately shown in America as A Touch of Spice, it certainly is an eye-opener to westerners on the subject of the primitive values still held in isolated areas of the continent as recently as the early Forties. The demands of the local tax collector to possess the village beauty (she spurns him and barricades herself in the local spice factory) seem to have stepped out of medieval times. Good photography, tactful direction by Ketan Mehta and a striking performance by Smita Patil as the endangered lady.


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