Yeah, sex is messy.

I’ll answer the question first: yes, there is nudity in this movie. No, it’s not Caligula level, just some naked women and simulated sex. If you’re looking for porn, this is not for you.

Tara is a princess. Maya is a servant girl. Their friendship is torn apart over the inevitable class issue, and Tara is destined to marry the prince of a neighboring province. Maya, tired of Tara’s leftovers and attitude issues, uses the one thing she can – her body. She sleeps with the prince before the wedding, which really upsets Tara, though I don’t know why, as the prince isn’t exactly pristine. Maya is cast out of town for her actions though, and commences wandering around prettily over the countryside.

And now is the time on Sprockets when we dance…

She meets up with Jai Kumar, an artist who sculpts statues for the erotic temples. He convinces her to stay with Resa, the local courtesan trainer and Kama Sutra expert. Of course, he has ulterior motive, and a relationship ensues, until he decides that having a muse is a detriment to his work. So Maya decides to become a courtesan, and ends up – surprise! At Prince Raj and Princess Tara’s castle! And hey, Jai Kumar ends up there too, as the prince likes the statues. Everybody’s happy, right? The movie would be a lot shorter if this were the case.

Is that a…pearl necklace? Oh my…

So, is it a love story? Well, yes, there is a love story. Is it a story of love, Kama Sutra style? Well…not really. Yes, there is a lot of sex, but it doesn’t seem like that’s all the movie is about. Sex is more of a plot accent, to help move the story along and give you insight into the characters. It doesn’t give off a feeling of “Hey look, we got nekkid people!”. I actually preferred looking at the clothes, as they give off more of a feeling of lush, rich textures and beauty – clothing porn!

This captions itself, really…

Clothes aside (heh), this is a gorgeous movie. It’s vibrant and colorful. The music isn’t overbearing and is only noticeable when it’s supposed to be. There are some strange jump cuts, but they are quickly forgotten as the movie flows along. The plot may be a familiar device but it’s told well. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see it based on the title, but now I’m glad I did. I may even have to go out and buy my own copy.