Mother India
Mother India

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- 78/100 based on 9,649 votes
  • Released: 1957
  • Runtime: 175 mins
  • Director:
  • Studio: Mehboob Productions
  • Genres: Drama

The film begins with the finishing of a water canal for the village set in the present. Radha (Nargis), as the mother of the village, is asked to open the canal and remembers back to her past when she was newly married, mirroring the new independence of India. The wedding between Radha and Shamu (Raaj Kumar) was paid for by Radha's mother-in-law, who got a loan from the moneylender Sukhilala. This event starts the spiral of poverty and hardship that Radha endures. The conditi... (Full plot summary below)

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Actors in Mother India:

Nargis
Sunil Dutt
Rajendra Kumar
Raaj Kumar
Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi
Kumkum

Full Plot Details

The film begins with the finishing of a water canal for the village set in the present. Radha (Nargis), as the mother of the village, is asked to open the canal and remembers back to her past when she was newly married, mirroring the new independence of India. The wedding between Radha and Shamu (Raaj Kumar) was paid for by Radha's mother-in-law, who got a loan from the moneylender Sukhilala. This event starts the spiral of poverty and hardship that Radha endures. The conditions of the loan are disputed, but the village elders decide in favor of the moneylender, after which Shamu and Radha are forced to pay three-quarters of their crop as interest on the loan of 500 rupees. While trying to use more of their land to alleviate their poverty, Shamu's arms are crushed by a boulder. He is shamed by his helplessness and is humiliated by others in the village. Deciding that he is no use to his family, he leaves and does not return. Soon after this, Radha's mother-in-law dies. Radha continues to work in the fields with her children and gives birth again. Sukhilala offers to help alleviate her poverty in return for Radha marrying him, but she refuses to sell herself. A storm sweeps through the village that destroys the harvest and kills Radha's youngest child, and the villagers start to migrate but decide to stay and rebuild because of Radha's urging. The film then skips forward several years to when Radha's two surviving children, Birju (Sunil Dutt) and Ramu (Rajendra Kumar), are young men. Birju, embittered by the exactions of Sukhilala since he was a child, takes out his frustrations by pestering the village girls, especially Sukhilala's daughter. Ramu, by contrast, has a calmer temper and is married soon after. He becomes a father ,but his wife is soon absorbed into the cycle of poverty. Birju's anger finally becomes dangerous and, after being provoked, attacks Sukhilala and his daughter and violently lashes out at his family. He is chased out of the village and becomes a bandit. On the day of the wedding of Sukhilala's daughter, Birju returns to exact vengeance. He kills Sukhilala and takes his daughter--but Radha, who had promised that Birju would not do harm, shoots Birju, who dies in her arms. The film ends with her opening the canal and reddish water flowing into the fields.

Review & Comments

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Movie Reviews

Empire Magazine - 10/10 by David ParkinsonPut it this way, it's the birth of the Bollywood blockbuster. It should be on every cineaste's must-see list.
New York Times - 8/10 by Dave KehrThe film is at once a sort of Indian "Stella Dallas," which finds the heroine making sacrifice after sacrifice on behalf of her family, and a "Gone With the Wind"-style epic of social change.
Chicago Reader - 7/10 by Fred CamperAs the mother, Nargis is as resolute as a force of nature, and Mehboob Khan creates tableaux of the family that evoke its fragile unity.
Guardian - 2/10 by Peter BradshawThis looks a bit creaky now, but it's a big, entertaining work, with echoes of The Good Earth and Gone With the Wind.
User Review - 10/10 by Suveera AAbsolutely heartwrenching, this film is one of the best and most important milestones of Indian Cinema that must be seen by the true auteur film buff/fan. The film quite represents India for what it is and was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Academy Award (Oscar). Nargis' performance is simply outstandingly courageous and heartfelt in all its simplicity as she struggles to raise her 2 sons as a single mother after her husband deserts her. The film's conclusion is quite shockingly devastating and heartbreaking to watch. Film lore says during the shooting of this film, the actress Nargis became trapped by fire and was rescued by the actor Sunil Dutt and they both married almost immediately. This was the start to one of the most intriguing real-life Bollywood romances which produced a son Sanjay Dutt, who is now a very prominent Bollywood actor in his own right.
User Review - 10/10 by Roberto LThis epic still stands up today. It's a bona fide classic, beautifully filmed in huge, sweeping images and high drama. Though it runs about 3 hours, it doesn't really drag. There are even musical numbers, true to Bollywood custom. I'm convinced that it would have won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film if it hadn't been for Fellini's Nights of Cabiria, which won the award; I don't recognize any of the other nominated films.
User Review - 10/10 by Ayaz AThis Classic from mehboob Khan can be part of any list showcasing the best films of all time.
User Review - 10/10 by Cindy JHmmm..where to start? The first part of the film sort of plays put like a film about Murphy's Law. It's all very poignant and when the climax comes (which I might add is exceptionally set up) it's incredibly emotionally involving. Beyond the narrative, even, the themes are so rich and many. Yeah, you guys should totally see this movie.
User Review - 10/10 by Erin CThis movie is amazing. Such an amazing director. Great actors and scenery! I also love Nargis' songs!
User Review - 10/10 by Shishir KIndian Classic Only Bollywood oscar nominee for years... look for human emotions in it.....

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