He, in turn, flaunts his longtime affair with a Chinese-Canadian woman. It seems only a matter of time before the willful Sita develops romantic feelings for Radha and the two women fall into each other's arms. It's not so much that Radha and Sita succumb to desire but that they take comfort in each other, claiming what is due to them in life - love, understanding and care. When Ashok finds the two women in bed, it does not occur to him to question if he contributed in any way to their unhappiness. Fire has incurred the wrath of the Sena in part because it challenges patriarchal norms and urges women to assert themselves.
Hindu tradition circumscribes a very limited role for women.
Lesbianism, for which the Hindi language does not have a word, is naturally viewed as a threat to society. Radha and Sita, for instance, are the names of consorts of the Hindu gods Krishna and Rama respectively. Mehta also stands certain cultural symbols on their head - for example, the two lovers observe for each other an annual fast that Hindu women embark on to ensure their husbands' longevity. The film's bold and even-handed treatment of the shifting relationship between the sexes in the country has been lauded by many Indians. Women, especially, had been going to see the movie in droves.