The Environment:
Hazar Chaurasi Ki Maa is set in 1972 on backdrop of Naxalbari Movement. Naxalbari Movement ignited for the need to win farmers n’ agricultural workers their right of land and minimum wages. But soon this movement took a wrong turn towards violence. As the movement saw the light of manpower, it turned itself into militancy.
The Mother Of Corpse no. 1084 :
Sujata Chatterjee played by Jaya Bachchan is a woman of traditional values. She works in a bank and is a perfect housewife. One day she wakes up in the morning to hear a news of her youngest son Brati’s death. She is told that corpse no. 1084 lies in the police morgue. This corpse has been identified to be Brati’s body.
It is told to her that Brati played by Joy Sengupta was Naxalite. The haunting darkness of Brati’s death leads her to the deep valleys that link political events with personal lives of normal human beings.
As she walks through the tough times of her son’s death she finds herself hurling an array of question towards herself,
’’I was asleep as if nothing has happened. Why didn’t I feel anything when he was dieing?’’
’’Did I know my son the way he was?’’
’’Or was my thought that I know my son simply an illusion?’’
’’What made him choose a path which has never related to our family?’’
To find answers to these questions and many others, she walks out of her world in the society that her son had rebelled against, to meet Brati’s friends and the other people whom he interacted with. As she meets new people, she is introduced to reality which is a far cry to her son’s character that she had actually known since his birth.
The soul of Hazar Chaurasi Ki Maa:
’Hazar Chaurasi Ki Maa’ brings in question, the lack of honest communication between parents and children.
Brati’s father played by Anupam Kher has an idea about his son’s leanings towards his revolutionary ideas. But he never took them seriously. On the contrary he has been rejecting or turning blind towards his son’s world. Even after his son’s death he is ashamed of his son being involved in a controversial group rather than knowing the reason of his son’s facing an unnatural death. He copes up with Sujata’s act of knowing her son better, but it takes him time to respond.
The movie has an air of insecurity flowing throughout the movie. Insecurity of not knowing, insecurity of lossing something we possessed but never knew we possessed, insecurity of knowing the truth when we want to know it but don’t dare to believe in it. Every scene is rich in information needed for the plot.
The scene where Sujata meets her son’s friend’s mother played by Seema Biswas, who has also lost her son in the same event. She tells her how Brati and his friends were killed outside her house.
The scene where she meets Brati’s girlfriend played by Nandita Das who herself is a Naxalite and has been tortured in prison. Nandita Das’s character is the one which plays a catalyst between Sujata Chaterjee and her thoughts of giving a purpose to her life.
The climax scene where she faces the hypocrisy of the society. I won’t give the details of this scene as this can cause a sense of un-interest towards the movie.
The movie sees Sujata digging deep in the past only to question her own identity. A conflict arises with herself thus opening to her the secret doors of the world her son lived in.
Hazar Chaurasi Ki Maa is based on a novel of the same name written by Mahasweta Devi
The Ones who breathe life in characters:
Jaya Bachchan plays Mrs. Sujata Chaterjee with conviction. Hazar Chaurasi Ki Maa comes to life as Jaya Bachchan shows her complex feelings with her expressions. Her facial features have been used to their fullest.
Seema Biswas plays the Bihari woman from lower caste who has lost her son effectively. She has her own moments in the movie.
Nandita Das plays the love of the dead revolutionary with a zest. Her character is that of a strong practical woman who grows to be fighter against police brutality. She gives her character all the grace it needs.
Joy Sengupta plays Brati with a charm. He wins in gaining the viewer’s sympathy which his character demands.
Anupam Kher as Brati’s father & Milind Gunaji as the police officer play their parts well.
The Technical Front:
Hazar Chaurasi Ki Maa is based on a novel of the same name written by Mahasweta Devi Myself hasn’t read the novel so cannot say how true the movie is to the book.
Govind Nihilani as a director has already proved himself with masterpieces like ‘Aakrosh’, ‘Ardh Satya’, ‘Drohakaal’ and more recently ‘Thakshak’ He has a way of making movies with political themes. His direction, screenplay and cinematography are no doubt masterful touches of a seasoned veteran.
Debjyoti Mishra’s music compliments the tension packed atmosphere of the movie.
My Thoughts after watching the movie:
Why children aren’t open with their parents?
Children fear that their confessions and outdoor activities won’t be understood properly by their parents. They have a feeling that these discussions might only lead to unnecessary hassles in the routine lives of their families. Sometimes circumstances get so awkward that children tend to lie to parents rather than discussing with the elders for small things which soon grow bigger n’ larger before they know it.
Why parents aren’t open with their children?
Parents don’t feel it necessary to discuss with children, the serious matters in the environment that don’t relate to their children directly. These very hesitations lead to a generation gap which gets tough to face in day to day life. There are things which parents think are foolish and immature, but for their children these foolish n’ immature things mean a lot. Sometimes just to save themselves from embarrassment parents themselves lie to children regarding things that children must know.