Mississippi Masala Meta-Narratives Meena: Examining

Mississippi Masala

Meta-Narratives Meena: Examining Mississippi Masala

One of the most important meta-narratives that was evidenced in Mississippi Masala (and which is evidenced in daily existence, for that matter) revolves around issues of class, and the socio-economic projections that the attainment of material wealth is believed to grant a person. As such, one can make an argument that the entire basis for the romantic relationship between Meena and Demetrius in the film largely resulted as a direct effect of this particular meta-narrative.

Although Meena and Demetrius met at a car accident in the afternoon, it was not until their meeting later on at a swank night club that they were able to fully demonstrate the notions of intimacy that would later spawn a torrid love affair between the pair. The impetus for this decidedly inauspicious beginning was an issue of class that became manifest when Demetrius ran into his former lover Alicia -- and her new beau, Sylvester Artiste III. It was quite apparent from her perfunctory consideration of Demetrius' present occupation and engagements (he was a carpet cleaner) that Alicia, who was a singer on her way to "cut a record" in Los Angeles, considered herself to have 'outgrown Demetrius" affection as well as his social status because she was leading the lucrative life of a singer. Significantly underpinning this notion was her newfound relationship with Sylvester, who wore expensive clothes and had the vaunted occupation of "record producer" -- all of which greatly outclassed Demetrius in both a literal and figurative sense.

The implications of this class meta-narrative were fairly apparent. Due to the fact that Alicia had more financial security in the form of her career and that of her new found companion, she considered herself to be able to make Demetrius jealous of her newfound life -- and his spurned affection. This meta-narrative and its ramifications were not lost upon "D-Money," who responded to Alicia's disdain for him based upon her new class distinctions by dancing intimately with Meena in an attempt to make Alicia jealous -- which he may have done, while also inviting Meena's feelings to become attached to his own. Other effects of this meta-narrative can be found once Demetrius and Meena's relationship became exposed to the public. Demetrius lost most of his carpet cleaning clients, and was set to lose his company van and his very business. When Meena tried to approach him for the first time since they were forcibly separated by the police, Demetrius' ire was incurred due to the financial circumstances that had befallen him, which had lowered his socio-economic status virtually overnight.

Effectively, then, the initial effects of the class-meta-narrative not only was pivotal in compelling Demetrius and Meena towards one another, it also affected (and was affected by) their race and love meta-narrative, forcing them into situations that they would not have been in had both characters been more financially secure.

2. It would be highly difficult for Meena's family to accept her relationship with Demetrius due to the fact that Diaspora communities are highly inclusive, and fairly exclusive as well. Viewers of Mississippi Misala need to remember how self-contained the community in which Meena lived in, that functioned out of the Monte Cristo hotel, actually was. As Demetrius himself acknowledged at one point, most Indian motels cleaned their own carpets. Meena did not permit him to walk her home the night he dropped her off following their first meeting at the club because he was an outsider, and would have been perceived as one and not allowed to become intimate with the 'insiders' who lived within the Diaspora community as a result.

Another reason why it would be difficult for Meena's family to accept her relationship with Demetrius is due to the largely incestuous (although this term is not being used in its literal, sexual sense) relationship among displaced people. Because groups of a certain Diaspora have in fact been removed from their indigenous environment, they typically do as much as possible to cling to their native traditions. This fact can be evidenced by the attempts of the holding of the traditional Indian wedding in Mississippi Masala, in which prayers were still said in a foreign language. However, due to the fact that communities of a certain Diaspora are inherently small (particularly when compared to that of their new surroundings), there is a natural proclivity towards gossip and jealousy, particularly in regards to certain "assets," such as men.