Mother India is the much acclaimed epic musical of Indian cinematic history. The first Bollywood production to be nominated for the best forerign film at theOscars. Mother India is a celebration of Indian culture and virtues, that ignites flames of human patriotism. It mainly works because of it’’s earthly and human feel. Mother India is the tragic but human fable of an Indian mother; Who is an important pillar of an Indian family; Who sacrifices for her husband and for her children and fights all obstacles to maintain the stability of the family.
The foundation is an illiterate family, Radha(Nargis) married with Shammu(Raaj kumar) with two children, Birju and Ramu. This family is taken advantage of by a sleazy and greedy money lender, Sukhilala(Kanhaiyalal); That morgages the villagers lands and then ties them into an unescapable contract that entitles him to a portion of their harvests until their debts are resolved; A debt that never seems to end, as the villagers lack basic numerical skills to review their dealings with him. This family also falls into his hands. Where the mother-in-law of the household once borrowed 500 rupees from him. Sukhilala regularly torments and loots their dignity, their harvests and their assets, even when they have nothing. Sukhilala’s vile greed torments their existence and constantly threatens them of making them homeless.
To escape Sukhilala’s threats and to become self independent, Radha suggests to Shammu on cultivating their own land. However, that land is unfit for farming, as it’s full of rocks and infested with weeds. Regardless of this, Radha and Shammu set out on plowing these fields. Their efforts bring nothing but losses, first their cattle die and then in an unfortunate accident Shammu loses both his arms when they come underneath and are crushed by a heavy rock. A tragic chapter unfolds in their lives with now only Radha supporting the family due to Shammu’’s disability. Shammu, unable to handle the humility and taunts of Sukhilala and society on his now pathetic existence, disappears into nothing; leaving Radha entirely on her own to take care of their children, and it is now the true test of a mother that is Mother India!
This picture is a feast for the eyes. Shot entirely in the fields in earthly and exuberant technicolour. It is a celebration of Indian culture in eruptions of song and dance and splashes of colour. This picture is perfect in every faction of film-making; music, story, performances, production, and chronicles the journey and sacrifices of a family in moments of tragedy and celebration in which we are always involved in. The picture commences on a note where the villagers are honouring Radha, whence they place the necklace of flowers on her, she recapitulates her past and from there on the movie is a flashback of the past. We only find out at the very end of the her flashback why she was being honoured; It is an honour that is the fruit of a great sacrifice, that has earned her the title of Mother India.
Mehboob Khan’’s narration, direction and story telling is splendid. Many sequences have been handled very well and and are thought provoking. Shammu’s disappearance after he loses his self-respect, leaves the viewer awaiting his arrival along with Radha - will he ever arrive? We as the viewer build a bond with each character and feel their basic emotions. When Birju(Sunil Dutt) confronts Sukhilala to be shown the accounts of his families debts, tears come to ones eyes when he cannot make anything of it because he cannot read. He desperately seeks other villagers to read it for him and the most hurting comment comes, ’’We can’t read this, this is wisdom!’’’ This was very depressing; the helplessness of Birju that stands there defeated while the evil Sukhilala stands there mockingly smiling.
Another such notable scene is where the helpless Radha stands before the lustful eyes of Sukhilala and touched by this vile hands just so that she can feed her starving children! A prime strength of Mother India are those twelve picturesque song, each song is visual poetry and compliments the narrative perfectly. Without these crucial songs, Mother India would be incomplete. The songs are composed and sung with so much heart and so much passion that we literally live their meaning and emotions. ’’Duniya mein hum aaye hain to jeena hi padega, jeevan to hain zher, pher peene hi pedega’’ is an epitome of self-motivation. ’’If we have come to this world, we will have to live, even if life be poison, we still will have to drink it’’ - sings a mother to her children in a time of sorrow, as she ploughs near-barren fields with some help from her little sons. Then when good times arrive a whole village erupts into song and dance with ’’Dukh bhare din beete re bhaiyya, ab sukh aiyo re - ’’The sorrowful days are over brother, now come the good times!’’ It is these such thoughtful and beautiful songs that make Mother India a musical masterpiece, where songs play to express meaning and emotions.
Performances are equally as strong as all other aspects, from the entire cast; Shammu(Rajkumar), Ramu(Rajendra Kumar) , Birju(Sunil Dutt) and the detestable Sukhilala (Kanhaiyalal)Who has been completely lived by this scrawny actor to such an effect that ones completely begins to detest this pathetic greedy man. The extent of hatred we feel for Sukhilala works on many levels; his character, his performance but the most effective is how the actor is a scrawny old man that could collapse on touch and hence why the viewers feels this complete hatred after seeing this pathetic little man, taunt and take advantage of this misfortunate family without being raised a finger at. Just as Radha and her children are helpless, we too feel completely helpless having to see this man consistently poison this families lives while sucking their blood like a leach.
It is however when Birju(Sunil Dut) grows up that we can share our anger with him. Birju can no longer tolerate Sukhilala on which premise leads to the ultimate sacrifice of Mother India. Sajed Khan who plays the childhood Birju is very likable with his antics and erratic behaviour and successfully sows the seeds for Birju character when he grows up into Sunil Dutt.
However, irrespective of the superb performances from the supporting cast, this movie completely rests on the shoulders of Nargis(Radha). Which has always been depicted in the emblems of mother India, with Nargis pulling the plough. Nargis breathes life into Radha. It is her gut-wrenching portrayal of this impoverished and mis-fortunate, but courageous Indian woman that makes it difficult not to build a bond with Radha. All those who have been pampered by their mothers and slept in her lap, will completely attach to Radha, live all her emotions feel the pain when she is being surveyed by Sukhilala’s lusty eyes; feel her motherly love when she is scolding the naughty but adorable Birju in his childhood. It’s as if your own mother is on screen. Mother India is an involving and sweeping saga of human emotions and without doubt one of the greatest cinematic pieces ever and I can safely announce, that this is the greatest film I have ever seen. This is what true cinema should be like! If you have not seen Mother India as of yet or do not recall it, then watch it to appreciate and relive this golden and glorious era of Indian cinema. Enjoy Mother India; I sure did!