Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love is a 1996 Indian English language historical fiction, romance film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Mira Nair. The film takes its title from the ancient Indian text, the Kama Sutra, and serves as a common link between the characters. the film stars Rekha, Indira Varma, and Naveen Andrews in pivotal roles. The plot takes its origin from a short story by Urdu author Wajida Tabassum titled "Utran" ("Hand-Me-Downs" or "Cast-Offs"). The portion of plot derived from "Utran" takes place from the film's beginning until the scene where Maya says: "Now something I have used is yours forever." After that the story is the screenwriter's creation. Declan Quinn won the 1998 Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for his work in the film. The film was also nom