Maya Memsaab

An ingenious but not entirely successful translation of Flaubert's classic novel to contemporary India. A nice idea, but it doesn't capture much of the sense of the original. Maya is shown as fey rather than bored and it's difficult to see this Madame Bovary as a doomed temptress. If you've read the original and are prepared to stick with it, it's not bad, but it's definitely on the slow side and on the whole you wonder why they bothered.

I had to laugh when I saw this in the adult section of a movie catalog. It is definitely an older movie. The soundtrack isn't very good, and can be rather slow, but that's not the selling point. There are two bed scenes with Shahrukh Khan in them. KANK is the only other movie that has a bed scene in it. Maya is about tormented soul who can't seem to say no to the men who enter her life and will give her the attention she craves for their own benefits in return. Shahrukh Khan's character is the most interesting in the movie. He's very young in the film, and his youthfulness shows. He makes the film what it is. Without his character, the film wouldn't be anything. It's worth watching once. He's very creative in an uncreative set. My favorite scene is when his character is playing with Maya in the wet snow. He makes the unbelievable believable.

Are U impatient ? Got a deadline to meet ? Got a train 2 catch ? well then steer clear ! AVOID this one like plague !

Maya Memsaab is a rather slow inferno of a woman of many desires which certainly can't be fulfilled by one man. It makes interesting viewing for those of us who have some time to kill and don't mind killing it by titillating ourselves with a raunchy movie !!

I'd give it a 6 on 10 for the natural performances and the sexually stimulating theme ! And heyy !! There are some lovely songs too.

Maya is a woman without any interests. She just dreams her life away and wonders, why she does not feel fulfilled. This could be an interesting topic. That would need a good story, a nice setting and good dialogues. It doesn't have any of these. This movie is totally boring. There are only lengths and no climaxes.The only climax is Shahrukh Khan. But although I am a huge fan of his, I couldn't stand this movie. Even he can't make this movie exiting. The movie is not as bad as "King Uncle" and if you're an Art-house fan or like it slow, you might maybe like it. It's not funny, it's not interesting, it's not catching. My recommendation: Don't watch it.

Acclaimed director Ketan Mehta's desi adaptation of Madame Bovary completed twenty seven years this month. It was on a rainy day of 1993, July 14th to be precise, when I had ventured to a nearby theatre to catch this movie.

Mehta's wife Deepa Sahi played the titular role of Maya, a small town lady, who seeks true love and ends up having extra marital affairs only to get heartbroken in the end.

A young Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) played one of Maya's lovers and the film became quite controversial for his sex scene with Deepa Sahi. Expectedly, the Indian censors imposed several cuts which delayed the film. Moreover, the final theatrical version didnt have this much discussed scene which disappointed the audience.

Maya Memsaab had an awesome score by Hridaynath Mangeshkar with "Ek Haseen Nigah ka" and "O Dil Banjaare" topping the music charts that time. Technically, it is one of best films of those times shot in natural light in scenic locales of Simla.

Ketan Mehta's direction was competent like his earlier works (Mirch Masala and Sardar to name a few). Deepa Sahi looked beautiful as Maya and won the National award for her brilliant performance. SRK left mighty impression even in a small role. This was one of his earlier films and he was still two years away from turning superstar with 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' (1995).

Overall, Maya Memsaab was a good retelling of the classic novel Madame Bovary with some brilliant performances and outstanding music. Unfortunately, the film got bogged by the nude scene controversy and audience didn't see it the way it was intended to. Underrated classic I would say...