Mother India - A BollyCurry Edition

Life never comes with an instruction manual; instead, it comes with a mother attached to it. Mothers are the incarnation of nature that lead us through the highs and lows of our journey. One of the most vital elements of the dramas on the big screen is the mother who plays a predetermined role throughout. Be it an action movie, a comedy, or a romantic flick, mothers have certain quintessential traits that make them what they are. This week, BollyCurry takes you on an expedition to discover what it really takes to play an effective Bollywood mother.

 

She isn't Bollywood's typical mother if she is not dominated and suppressed by all and sundry. Starting from her overbearing husband to her good-for-nothing ungrateful offspring, mothers on celluloid are bossed around by family, interfering neighbors and strangers alike. It is only towards the climax when after all has been said and done and the situation has hit rock bottom, that she finally takes a stand for herself, turning the tables on everyone and bringing the story to its happy end.

 

It is the birthright of a mother in Bollywood to have an extreme reaction for every circumstance that she is faced with. Be it the task of considering a partner for her eligible child, or of acting as a channel of communication between her husband and kids, or catering to the incessant demands of her in-laws, she shall go to lengths to emphasize exactly how she was caught in an unwanted position. This certainly works for her as she is showered with the sympathies of the audiences that ultimately contribute to the success of the movie.

 

One might be surprised at the waterworks that can erupt from the eyes of a mother in Hindi cinema. A more shocking revelation is the fact that there is no water tank fixed in her body. Yes, this has been proven scientifically. Mothers of B-town have been credited with discovering a thousand ways of crying in the most trivial of situations. From whimpering to howling to bawling to sobbing, they've done it all; be it when their wayward son turns over a new leaf, or a dutiful son returns from a foreign land after completing his education, one thing you can guarantee is her waterworks!  

Another static quality that makes up a typical mother is her attire. One shall never find a single crease spoiling the smoothness of her saree, her dupatta shall never be out of place, and you shall definitely not see those printed kurtis going out of fashion. We have numerous examples in the movies of ladies that look like they've stepped out of Lakme Fashion Week, despite the fact that their family is going through a financial crisis. The quality of their apparel doesn't deteriorate even when they're supposed to be sleeping for the night. And did we even mention her spotless make-up at any given time of the day, perfect enough to give even Elton John Fernandez a run for his money.

You haven't met a Bollywood mother if you haven't heard her chant the fate mantra for at least a hundred times in a conversation. Charging everything that goes wrong, or occasionally right, to the account of fate and destiny, she implores how useless it is being a human when you have absolutely no say in whatever transpires in your life. Mothers can actually lead you to believe non-existent stuff, consequentially making you lose all credibility into anything called endeavor and effort.

We've seen frequent instances where mothers teach their children (read daughters) to behave flawlessly in a refined manner. One of the pet favourite stories of these mothers is to tell their kids how husbands should be placed next to God and women are born to do their bidding. Revealing clothes and partying with friends is a big NO in their opinion. Its like they've been dipped in a jar full of conservatism and spill a drop of the liquid wherever they go.

 

Writer: Pooja B.

Editors: Ritchelle C. and Gunia K.

Graphics: Shikha A.