MOTHER INDIA aka BHARAT MATA

Year: 1957
UK: BFI (Collections)
Cast: Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Kanhaiyalal, Kumkum, Master Sajid, Sitara Devi, Mukri, Sajid Khan, Kanan Kaushal, Sheela Naik
Director: Mehboob Khan
Country: India
Language: Hindi (English subtitles)
UK: 175 mins
UK Certificate: U contains infrequent mild violence
UK Release Date: 3 May 2002 (Limited Re-release - London)

Synopsis

MOTHER INDIA, the cornerstone of Indian commercial cinema, described by Salman Rushdie in 'The Moor's Last Sigh' as "the all-conquering movie MOTHER INDIA (one of the) mega-grossing Bollywood flicks". Almost constantly in distribution in India since the fifties, this remarkable film is a powerful emotional journey through the tragedy and joy of rural life in a country in transition.

1950's Bollywood queen, Nargis, stars as Radha, the quintessential earth-mother, standing knee-deep in fertile soil, imploring the villagers not to abandon their land. After her husband is maimed in a horrific accident, Radha raises her children alone, under threat of financial ruin and sexual advances from the moneylender.

Years pass and one son becomes committed to vengeance. Radha, caught between her son and the honour of her community, is faced with the most painful decision of any mother's life...