Guest guest Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 MUMBAI (May 13, 2006): Bollywood dotes on its mothers and we, fans of Hindi cinema the world over, adore our Bollywood mothers. This special op edit for Mother's Day by US-based Reeta Sinha focuses on Bollywood portrayal of Indian mothers: My earliest memories of Mother's Day, a holiday neither my mother nor I had heard of as new immigrants to the US, include marigolds and my mom's clever and quintessentially desi reply when she was asked, "Don't you celebrate Mother's Day?" Marigolds were the teacher- mandated Mother's Day gift in grade school. With snow still on the ground, each student planted marigold seeds in a small milk carton so that the plants would be ready to bloom in time for Mother's Day in May. My mother's response to Americans who seemed horrified that Indians didn't celebrate mothers on a special day was, "In India, we remember and honor our mothers every day, not just one day out of the year." >From dharti mata, our motherland, and Yashoda maiyya to Jai Mata di and oooi maa!, in India mothers are never far from our mind or our heart. And, in India, there's no place that reveres mothers more than Bollywood. Yes, others may have Oscar, but Bollywood ke paas Maa hai! You can picture them in your mind's eye, those screen mothers. Their adoring smiles, strokes that soothe away fears, soft voices singing lullabies and those pain-filled eyes reflecting the sacrifices made for the sake of their children. The mother of all Bollywood mothers, of course, was Nargis in Mother India. Representing both motherhood and Mother Earth, who also nurtures and occasionally punishes, Nargis has immortalized the Indian mother on celluloid. In the film, left to raise her sons single-handedly while also working the fields and fending off the evil intentions of the landowner, our mother endures it all stoically, sacrificing herself to pay off a loan and, in the ultimate act of selflessness, kills one of her sons for the greater good, the son who chose the path of evil. The audience lapped it up, this portrayal of motherly love and devotion, and directors in the generations since have repeated it. Some twenty years later Nirupa Roy became Bollywood's favorite mother in Deewar, another blockbuster that revolved around a downtrodden, sacrificing single mother and her two sons, Ravi, a good police officer and Vijay, the bad but mother-loving criminal. Pitting brother against brother for a mother's affection, Deewar established once and for all that no matter what else one attains, fame (or notoriety), fortune, mansions or cars, nothing matters more if, as Ravi (Shashi Kapoor)) says, "Mere paas maa hai." He has his mother and nothing else matters. It's a theme audiences saw often for the next decade or two, mothers who suffered all kinds of abuses without complaint, sometimes separated from one son, other times losing them all, only to be reunited with them in the movie's climax (usually involving much dhishum-dhishum in warehouses or construction sites). Nirupa Roy was often chosen for these roles, such as in Amar Akbar Anthony and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, but other memorable mothers include Waheeda Rehman in Trishul, Raakhee in Ram Lakhan and Nutan in Karma. What was enjoyable about these newer mothers, however, was that film- goers were treated to their more romantic side as they were seen dancing or singing with their husbands in happier times. Sharmila Tagore is another mother for the ages, both on and off the screen. What a thrill it must have been for the off-screen maa to see son Saif Ali Khan ride the same toy train to Darjeeling in Parineeta that she did some thirty years earlier in Aradhana. The tragic mother figure she cut in that film is one I cannot forget. I cried through the entire second half of the movie as a child and did the same when I saw it many years later as an adult. Was it that she lost her lover Rajesh Khanna or that she was kicked out of her family when she learned she was to have his child? No, it was how she gave up her baby for adoption and then become her own son's nanny that cut me into pieces. Isn't this what our filmi mothers do? Swallow their tears, stay in the shadows and silently watch as another woman is called "Maa," all so the child isn't tainted by her horrible kismat. More recently, though, in Virudh we were treated to a graceful yet still strong Sharmila as she plays a mother who holds her small family together after her only son is killed. Modern Bollywood mothers have kept up with the times. For one thing, they are now mom, not maa or mataji. They seem happier too, comfortably flirting with their husbands and dancing at anniversary and wedding receptions, albeit after some cajoling. No longer treated like goddesses, well, at least not all of the time, these modern moms have become their son or daughter's best pal and confidante. These mothers urge their children to follow their heart, go after that love, give up a job and occasionally, even leave home. They dress much better also. Gone are the wrinkled cotton saris in white and the lackluster skin tones. Bollywood moms now have the same designers their daughters and hone-wali bahus do. Some even wear jeans like Dimple in Pyaar Mein Twist and of course, Jaya, who has established herself as quite the Bollywood NRI mom in films such as Kal Ho Naa Ho (in blue jeans) and Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham (bedecked in gorgeous saris and jewels, not to mention a handsome husband). Other modern moms we have come to adore include Reema Lagoo, who epitomizes the contemporary fun-loving and supportive Bollywood mother in films such as Maine Pyar Kiya, Ham Aapke Hain Koun and Kal Ho Naa Ho, to name just a few. The baton has definitely been passed from Nargis on down. From mother to mother, each actress bringing her own touch and style, but, one thing will not change. Bollywood dotes on its mothers and we, fans of Hindi cinema the world over, adore our Bollywood mothers. So, if you're still wondering what to do for your mom on Mother's Day, or any other day, make her breakfast, give her flowers, fill a dish with candy, but don't forget to pop in a movie and celebrate Bollywood ish- style! SOURCE: South Asian Women's Forum URL: http://news.sawf.org/Bollywood/12224.aspx ------------------------ Sponsor --------------------~--> You can search right from your browser? It's easy and it's free. 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Guest guest Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 Very good article. In Bollywood some movies make impact ever after generation. I watched MOTHER INDIA again and again. Nargis excelled in her acting ability. May be, this movie was the PINNACLE of her career - and sadly the last movie too. Her shy daughterr -in-law image which matures as mother of India - overcoming all odds and obstacles is spell bounding. She stands to restore the image that Mother can be strong and self sacrificing.. On the other hand, Sharmila in ARADHANA singing NANA HAI THOO MERA MUNNA HAI THOO - EVEN i sang when my daughter was young. ONE ADDITION - I watched Old Ramanaya - it is BEAUTIFUL BEYOND WORDS. In that film, , Ravana was portraid as a SHIVA BHAKTA - who excelled in all ragas and veena - before going to war he was pouring out his heart to Shiva and asking him WHY HE IS UNABLE TO GET OVERcome his feelings towards SITA. Can anybody answer - shiva stands for SUPREME consciousness and purity - why was he not able to help Ravana TO OVERCOME PASSION. (passion towards other's wife - even Ravana realised it was wrong but was helpless). Madasamy is right we donot need one particular day to celebrate Mother's day. It reminded me of a question putforth before AISHWARYA in late night show by David Letterman - Is it true that you girls and boys stay with parents till you are married. She gave one line answer - WE DONOT NEED TO MAKE A DINNER APPOINTMENT TO VISIT OUR PARENTS. I call my daughter a coconut - she is brown from outside but internally British but has Indian soul - she loves and adores India AND HAS TRAVELLED WIDELY- I donot know why? SHE has that much attraction? She question a lot about India - i must confess that I have not travelled widely even after marriage. But, i see India threw her.She and her crew went on a project to South India -where Ghandhi priniciple was followed. I narrated her opinion of India to my niece - SHE SIMPLY REPLIED 'ONE need to live in India TO GET TO KNOW REAL INDIANS.'. iT IS very very true.. Madasamy is right we donot need a specail MOTHERS DAY. This reminded me of an interview by David Letterman to Aishwarya - Is it true that Indians live with parents till they are married. She simply gave one line answer - WE DONOT NEED TO MAKE A DINNER APPOINTMENT TO VISIT THEM. Happy mother's day to all. raji. ---------------------------- BAI (May 13, 2006): Bollywood dotes on its mothers and we, fans of >Hindi cinema the world over, adore our Bollywood mothers. This >special op edit for Mother's Day by US-based Reeta Sinha focuses on >Bollywood portrayal of Indian mothers: > >My earliest memories of Mother's Day, a holiday neither my mother nor >I had heard of as new immigrants to the US, include marigolds and my >mom's clever and quintessentially desi reply when she was >asked, "Don't you celebrate Mother's Day?" Marigolds were the teacher- >mandated Mother's Day gift in grade school. With snow still on the >ground, each student planted marigold seeds in a small milk carton so >that the plants would be ready to bloom in time for Mother's Day in >May. My mother's response to Americans who seemed horrified that >Indians didn't celebrate mothers on a special day was, "In India, we >remember and honor our mothers every day, not just one day out of the >year." > >From dharti mata, our motherland, and Yashoda maiyya to Jai Mata di >and oooi maa!, in India mothers are never far from our mind or our >heart. And, in India, there's no place that reveres mothers more than >Bollywood. Yes, others may have Oscar, but Bollywood ke paas Maa hai! > >You can picture them in your mind's eye, those screen mothers. Their >adoring smiles, strokes that soothe away fears, soft voices singing >lullabies and those pain-filled eyes reflecting the sacrifices made >for the sake of their children. > >The mother of all Bollywood mothers, of course, was Nargis in Mother >India. Representing both motherhood and Mother Earth, who also >nurtures and occasionally punishes, Nargis has immortalized the >Indian mother on celluloid. In the film, left to raise her sons >single-handedly while also working the fields and fending off the >evil intentions of the landowner, our mother endures it all >stoically, sacrificing herself to pay off a loan and, in the ultimate >act of selflessness, kills one of her sons for the greater good, the >son who chose the path of evil. The audience lapped it up, this >portrayal of motherly love and devotion, and directors in the >generations since have repeated it. > >Some twenty years later Nirupa Roy became Bollywood's favorite mother >in Deewar, another blockbuster that revolved around a downtrodden, >sacrificing single mother and her two sons, Ravi, a good police >officer and Vijay, the bad but mother-loving criminal. Pitting >brother against brother for a mother's affection, Deewar established >once and for all that no matter what else one attains, fame (or >notoriety), fortune, mansions or cars, nothing matters more if, as >Ravi (Shashi Kapoor)) says, "Mere paas maa hai." He has his mother >and nothing else matters. It's a theme audiences saw often for the >next decade or two, mothers who suffered all kinds of abuses without >complaint, sometimes separated from one son, other times losing them >all, only to be reunited with them in the movie's climax (usually >involving much dhishum-dhishum in warehouses or construction sites). >Nirupa Roy was often chosen for these roles, such as in Amar Akbar >Anthony and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, but other memorable mothers include >Waheeda Rehman in Trishul, Raakhee in Ram Lakhan and Nutan in Karma. >What was enjoyable about these newer mothers, however, was that film- >goers were treated to their more romantic side as they were seen >dancing or singing with their husbands in happier times. > >Sharmila Tagore is another mother for the ages, both on and off the >screen. What a thrill it must have been for the off-screen maa to see >son Saif Ali Khan ride the same toy train to Darjeeling in Parineeta >that she did some thirty years earlier in Aradhana. The tragic mother >figure she cut in that film is one I cannot forget. I cried through >the entire second half of the movie as a child and did the same when >I saw it many years later as an adult. Was it that she lost her lover >Rajesh Khanna or that she was kicked out of her family when she >learned she was to have his child? No, it was how she gave up her >baby for adoption and then become her own son's nanny that cut me >into pieces. Isn't this what our filmi mothers do? Swallow their >tears, stay in the shadows and silently watch as another woman is >called "Maa," all so the child isn't tainted by her horrible kismat. >More recently, though, in Virudh we were treated to a graceful yet >still strong Sharmila as she plays a mother who holds her small >family together after her only son is killed. > >Modern Bollywood mothers have kept up with the times. For one thing, >they are now mom, not maa or mataji. They seem happier too, >comfortably flirting with their husbands and dancing at anniversary >and wedding receptions, albeit after some cajoling. No longer treated >like goddesses, well, at least not all of the time, these modern moms >have become their son or daughter's best pal and confidante. These >mothers urge their children to follow their heart, go after that >love, give up a job and occasionally, even leave home. They dress >much better also. Gone are the wrinkled cotton saris in white and the >lackluster skin tones. Bollywood moms now have the same designers >their daughters and hone-wali bahus do. Some even wear jeans like >Dimple in Pyaar Mein Twist and of course, Jaya, who has established >herself as quite the Bollywood NRI mom in films such as Kal Ho Naa Ho >(in blue jeans) and Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham (bedecked in gorgeous >saris and jewels, not to mention a handsome husband). Other modern >moms we have come to adore include Reema Lagoo, who epitomizes the >contemporary fun-loving and supportive Bollywood mother in films such >as Maine Pyar Kiya, Ham Aapke Hain Koun and Kal Ho Naa Ho, to name >just a few. > >The baton has definitely been passed from Nargis on down. From mother >to mother, each actress bringing her own touch and style, but, one >thing will not change. Bollywood dotes on its mothers and we, fans of >Hindi cinema the world over, adore our Bollywood mothers. So, if >you're still wondering what to do for your mom on Mother's Day, or >any other day, make her breakfast, give her flowers, fill a dish with >candy, but don't forget to pop in a movie and celebrate Bollywood ish- >style! > >SOURCE: South Asian Women's Forum >URL: http://news.sawf.org/Bollywood/12224.aspx > > > > > > ------------------------ Sponsor --------------------~--> Everything you need is one click away. 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