Roja, a simple girl from a village in Tamil Nadu, makes desperate efforts to find her husband, Rishi, after he is kidnapped by militants during a secret undercover mission in Kashmir.
Score
AR Rahman's debut—literally changed Indian cinema's sound forever.
Cinematography
Kashmir as character: majestic, terrifying, impossibly beautiful.
Acting
Madhu's ferocious fragility—refuses to be a passive victim.
Director
Mani Ratnam
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Mani Ratnam originally wanted a different composer; producer insisted on AR Rahman. The rest is history.
The film sparked debate about Kashmir representation—some hailed its humanism, others critiqued its Tamil-centric nationalism.
IN
