It’s true that the way mothers are portrayed in Hindi-language Indian cinema has changed over time. In the past, women were frequently portrayed as being submissive and restricted to conventional domestic roles, such as motherhood. However, there has been a shift in recent years towards presenting mothers as strong, independent, and empowered.
Nowadays, a lot of Bollywood movies have female characters who actively fight against prejudice and inequality while challenging traditional gender roles and stereotypes. These characters are frequently portrayed as being strong and powerful, with ambitions and goals independent of their motherly responsibilities. Instead of being constrained by conventional gender roles and expectations, it has inspired more women to step forward and pursue their own goals and aspirations.
Here is a list of 5 legendary mothers who redefined motherhood in Bollywood on the extraordinary occasion of Mother’s Day:
- Sridevi Kapoor in the film “Mom”
One of late Sridevi’s best performances was thought to be in her final film, “Mom.” She plays a mother in the movie who embarks on a risky vengeance mission to seek retribution for her sexually abused daughter. Her portrayal of a mother seeking justice despite overwhelming odds left audiences with a strong message. The motherhood, self-sacrifice, and vengeance themes in the movie struck a chord with the audience. One aspect of the film that stood out was Sridevi’s performance. Her stirring performance in the Ravi Udyawar-directed movie “Mom” further solidifies her reputation as one of Bollywood’s most outstanding actresses.
- In “Jazbaa,” Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s acting talent was on full display in “Jazbaa,” a strong and moving movie. Her portrayal of Anuradha, a mother who will do whatever it takes to save her daughter, was both moving and motivational. Widely praised for her portrayal of a variety of emotions, including desperation and fear as well as strength and resolve, Rai received praise for her work in the movie. The struggle of her character to strike a balance between her love for her daughter and her commitment to justice served as a powerful lesson for the audience, and the film’s themes of motherhood and sacrifice struck a chord with viewers. After her daughter is abducted, an honest lawyer who is also a single mother finds herself in a life-or-death situation where she must defend a shady criminal. She will now have to put her honesty aside and pay a ransom to spare a rapist from death.
3. In “Mother India,” Nargis
One of the most recognisable performances in Indian film history is Nargis’ portrayal of Radha in Mehboob Khan’s “Mother India.” The movie, which debuted on October 25, 1957, is about a woman who must take on the role of the family’s sole provider after her husband’s arms are broken by a boulder.
In the movie, Nargis plays a strong and inspirational mother who, despite facing many challenges and setbacks, never loses sight of her goals of supporting her family and safeguarding her children.
4. Kriti Sanon in ‘Mimi’
A Hindi language movie titled “Mimi” with Kriti Sanon in the lead was made by Dinesh Vijan and directed by Laxman Utekar. In order to use the money to realise her dream of becoming an actress, a young woman named Mimi agrees to serve as a surrogate mother for a foreign couple in the movie. The biological parents, however, decide against having the child after finding out that it will be born with Down syndrome. After making the decision to raise the child alone, Mimi deals with a number of difficulties and social pressures. Her experience as a mother and her fight against the odds to care for her child are both endearing and motivating. Mimi demonstrates through her sacrifices that motherhood transcends biology and that a mother’s love has no bounds.
5. Rani Mukerji in ‘Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway’
Ashima Chibber is the director of “Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway,” which had Rani Mukerji in the title role and was released in March 2023. The movie is based on the true account of Bhavna Chatterjee, an Indian mother who fought the Norwegian Child Welfare Services for custody of her children. In order to establish that her parenting practises were not detrimental to her children, Rani Mukerji’s character battled the Norwegian foster care system and the legal apparatus.
