MUMBAI: The release of Deepa Mehta's Water, initially slated for 23 February 2007, has been postponed by two weeks.

The film will now be released on 9 March 2007. Water has been shortlisted for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards. The film highlights the plight of Hindu widows in India of the 1930s. Ironically, the film's shooting in Varansai, India, had to be scrapped, following protests from various social and religious groups and was later completed in Sri Lanka.

Producer Ravi Chopra, who plans to release the film in India, says, "I am very happy that Water has been nominated for the Oscar Awards. I hope it wins. We received the prints of Water last week and are currently cutting the promos. By 9 February, the promos will be on air."

Water has been cleared by the censor board with a 'U' certificate and stars John Abraham, Lisa Ray, Seema Biswas, Sarala, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Waheeda Rehman, Raghuvir Yadav, Manorama and Vinay Pathak.