Mississippi Masala

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You can go.

This is Radio Uganda.

Today, November 7, 1972, is the day

in which the people of Uganda

are witnessing the end of one

chapter in this country's history

and the beginning of another.

Today, the last of the Asians who have

been forced to leave the country

will have done so in order to pave the way

for the indigenous people of

Uganda to control the economy.

You give an interview on BBC

say that Amin was evil.

Are you mad?

What about Kinnu?

What about Mina?

- Do you ever think of them?

- What should l have done?

Remain silent?

- That is the coward's way. -

Don't talk to me about cowards!

That's what you are.

You're not leaving because

you're scared to leave.

- You are scared of leaving

Uganda. - Why should l go?

Why should l go?

Okelo, this is my home.

Not anymore, Jay.

Africa is for Africans.

Black Africans.

l'll be leaving today.

Thank God you're back.

Where did they take you?

Did they hurt you?

Speak to me, Jay.

Where's Okelo?

Gone home, l suppose.

l just can't think about the house,

what to pack. l just want to go.

- Where are we going, Papa?

- Mina, go to sleep.

- But sleep's not coming.

- No one's going anywhere.

- Now, go back to bed. - Beta.

We are leaving very soon.

Are we going where Masuma went?

Maybe.

- She said there's snow.

Will there be? - Yes.

ls Okelo chachu coming with us?

- Take whatever you want

from the house. - Thank you.

Bye. Bye.

Bye. Bye.

When are we coming back home?

l don't know.

Papa?

Are you crying?

You said that big people don't cry.

Why do we have to go, Papa?

Last day. Last day.

Last day. Last day.

Kinnu.

Okelo.

The car.

l'll sell this.

Mina, come.

- What's this? You're taking it

with you? - Can't you come with us?

Be a good girl. Look after your parents

and you'd better not forget your Swahili!

But who will speak Swahili

with me over there?

l'll see you soon, okay?

Okelo Uncle

Thank you.

You. Out of the bus.

You stay here. Bring your bags.

- What's in your bag?

- Nothing. Just clothes.

Open.

- What's this? - Music.

Show me.

My shoes are Japanese

My pants are English

My red hat is Russian

But my heart, it's all Indian

You can go.

Mama.

Mina.

East African Airways announces the

departure of flight EC 786 to London.

Passengers holding boarding passes

are requested to proceed

to the aircraft. Thank you.

- Mama, pee is coming. - No.

No. Not now, beta, we're late.

- It's coming so badly, Papa. -

You can't do it here. Now, wait.

l did it.

Last call for East African

Airways flight EC 786 to London.

Passengers are requested to proceed

to the aircraft immediately. Thanks.

Please, bagger, checkout

three. Bagger, checkout three.

Please, bagger, checkout

three. Bagger, checkout three.

Sale on aisle five.

Mina.

Mina.

Toilet paper's on sale.

Shall l get some?

Aren't we late? l thought you

wanted milk for the wedding.

ls this enough?

Yes, it's enough.

- Good afternoon.

- Afternoon.

Twenty-five gallons of milk,

1 O buttermilk.

Holy cow. You opening a dairy?

l was just trying to be friendly.

- Why you going so fast? - l'll

get a ticket if l go any slower.

Drive slowly, Mina.

Do you wanna drive?

- Look, there's an accident. - It's

gonna be all over town tomorrow.

- Damn it! Didn't you see

me? - Hold on, l saw you.

Where did you get a driving

license, boy, Sears and Roebuck?

You stopped in the middle of the

road, this woman ran into me

- If you hadn't just stopped

- What's going on here?

- My truck stalled. - No, your

truck stopped in the road!

- And you tailgated

- Keep your voice down!

Your license.

- Does anybody need a ride?

- l'm not finished.

ls it against the law

for my truck to stall?

- It is to stop in the middle of

the road. - If you're barreling

- What is he talking about?

- Step back.

Told him l'm not afraid.

- What's he saying? - He's

saying everything is fine.

- Get that black guy's name for

insurance. - l told you, drive slowly.

Didn't l tell you to drive

slowly? What will Anil say?

l'm really sorry.

l think l need your name and

address for the insurance.

- You all right? - Yeah. Here's mine.

- Thanks. - All right.

l'm telling you, it's not my fault.

l ain't finished with you yet, young lady.

Honorable Sirs:
This is in reference

to my lawsuit, number 2089

filed in the high court at

Kampala, dated 30 December 1985

for restoration of my property.

l was born in Uganda and

Uganda has been my home

a country to which l had

the utmost loyalty and love

until l was forcibly

and illegally expelled

by General Idi Amin.

Suing the mad government

of a mad country.

lt's going to drive you mad.

For five years they haven't replied.

- But you carry on like a stuck

record. - Kinnu, it's a new regime.

l know it's a new regime.

So what? Every year it's new.

- But nothing

- Kinnu, Mina had an accident.

- What happened, beta? -

What did you do to my car?

- What did you do to my car,

Mina? - Was anyone hurt?

No one was hurt.

- How did it happen?

- Thank God nobody was hurt.

What's happened has happened.

No use crying over spilt milk.

Who is going to pay for this? Does

money grow on trees over here?

Maybe in your fertile Uganda it

used to grow on trees, but not here.

Can't feed his own family and

Iecturing about spilt milk.

My father can feed us just fine, you wanker.

- What did you say? - Shut your mouth.

Why should l shut my mouth?

Hey, my man,

l need my money. Forty bucks.

Y'all gonna need this

for the insurance.

See, Napkin, last week l even got

Chanda's name on the license plate.

Anilbhai, stop thinking of the car.

From whose pocket is this all going to come?

Thank you very much. Bye-bye, bye-bye.

- You have other problems. - What?

ln this country, all they know is how to sue.

You get me? You know about whiplash?

He'll say, When she hit my car,

my neck got a

And my spine is damaged forever

and so l am suing you for

just one million dollars.

- Then what will you do? -

Hey, Pontiac, stop scaring him.

- Anil, give me that fellow's card. - Sure.

Your debt is our bread and butter.

This fellow cleans my carpets.

- Mine too. So what? - So l'll fix it.

- Don't worry.

- You speak to him? Please.

Tomorrow. Now, smile.

l want to see you smile.

lt's your wedding day,

man, come on. Enjoy!

- Okay? - All right.

Beautiful.

Must you check, Kinnu? It's

not Mina's wedding after all.

- l knew it. Go change your slippers.

- Why?

- Is he gonna check out my feet also?

- Mina.

Face it, Ma, you got a darkie daughter.

Harry's mother doesn't like darkies.

Who needs Harry

hero-types in our family?

Want her to be a 30-year-old

spinster running a liquor store?

Why not? You can have a chain.

Go change your slippers.

The things l do for you, Ma.

Really, you never say anything

to her. You forget she's a girl.

Can girls behave the way she

does? Spoil her. Spoil her.

When she sits on our head,

it'll be your responsibility.

Kinnu.

The accident wasn't her fault.

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