5 Iconic Bollywood Films to Watch on Mother’s Day

Welcome to the world of Bollywood, where emotions run high, and stories touch hearts!

As we approach Mother’s Day, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.

Bollywood, with its rich tapestry of stories, has often beautifully captured this unique relationship.

So, why not celebrate this special day by watching some iconic Bollywood films that pay tribute to motherhood?

We will take you through five such films that not only tug at your heartstrings but also celebrate the spirit of motherhood in all its glory.

So, grab your popcorn, snuggle up with your mum, and get ready for a cinematic journey that will leave you both teary-eyed and smiling.

Mom (2017)

When Sridevi takes the lead in a film, she invests her heart and soul into the role.

Her performance in Mom was no exception.

In this intense tale of a mother seeking revenge, Sridevi channels the kind of energy typically associated with ‘angry young man’ characters.

Her performance was, to say the least, deeply moving.

In the film, Sridevi plays Devki, a popular biology teacher.

Her teenage stepdaughter, Arya (played by Sajal Ali), also attends the same school.

However, their relationship is strained, with Arya referring to Devki as ‘ma’am’ instead of ‘mom’.

Despite Devki’s best efforts, she fails to break the ice.

The plot takes a dark turn when Arya is brutally raped and nearly killed.

The police mishandled the case, allowing the culprits to walk free. This injustice prompts Devki to take matters into her own hands.

Like a wounded lioness, she hunts down each perpetrator, embodying the role of an avenging angel.

Yet, Sridevi’s portrayal also reveals a softer side to her character, which is skilfully depicted.

The film reaches a poignant climax when Arya, for the first time, refers to Devki as ‘mom’, thereby justifying Devki’s quest for justice.

Helicopter Eela (2018)

Helicopter Eela is a coming-of-age film that explores the themes of motherhood and womanhood.

Based on the acclaimed Gujarati play “Beta Kaagdo” by Anand Gandhi, the film delves into the constant worry that is an inherent part of motherhood.

Mothers often find it difficult to stop worrying, sometimes to the point of obsession.

However, there is usually a reason behind such intense concern.

The film’s central message is that mothers need to learn to let go and live for themselves for their growth.

In the film, Eela (played by Kajol) is a talented singer married to a copywriter named Arun (Tota Roy Chowdhury).

She is a mother to a young son and seems to be on the brink of a successful career.

However, when a cousin’s death triggers a mid-life crisis in Arun, he decides to leave his wife and child to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

This leaves Eela to raise her son alone.

She sacrifices her singing career to start a food delivery business and becomes increasingly overprotective as her son grows older.

The film heavily relies on Kajol’s stellar performance.

As Eela, she effortlessly portrays a bubbly teenager in the first half of the film and convincingly transforms into a fiercely protective mother in the latter half.

Mimi (2021)

This comedy-drama revolves around the idealistic Mimi (Kriti Sanon), a Bollywood enthusiast and ardent Ranveer Singh fan from Rajasthan.

She agrees to become a surrogate for an American couple, without fully contemplating the social, emotional, or ethical implications of her decision.

The film truly comes into its own as it explores the evolving relationship between the mother and child post-birth.

The central theme of the movie is the transformative power of motherhood.

Mimi, who initially agreed to surrogacy purely for financial gain, puts her ambitions aside to fully embrace her role as a devoted and caring mother to her son.

She finds fulfilment in raising him and desires nothing more from life.

Her son, Raj, becomes her entire world.

Mimi is unwilling to part with him and goes to great lengths to protect him.

Paa (2009)

Paa is a film that explores a mother’s struggle as she cares for her child who suffers from a rare disease.

The film’s central character, Auro (played by Amitabh Bachchan), is a 12-year-old boy afflicted with a rare genetic condition known as progeria.

Despite his physical appearance making him look five times his age, Auro is an intelligent and mischievous child, much like any other preteen.

Auro lives with his mother, Vidya (Vidya Balan), who works as a gynaecologist.

Vidya has kept Auro’s existence a secret from his biological father, Amol (Abhishek Bachchan), a young politician who was not ready for fatherhood when they were in a relationship.

Amol and Auro meet at a school function where Amol is the chief guest.

They strike up a friendship, with Amol even fulfilling Auro’s request to see the president’s house.

When Amol discovers that Auro is Vidya’s son, he attempts to reconnect with her.

However, Vidya is still nursing the wounds of his initial rejection.

Despite his deteriorating health and the likelihood that he won’t live past his 13th birthday, Auro makes it his life’s mission to reconcile his parents.

In the end, both parents promise to marry each other, and Auro passes away contentedly, addressing them as ‘Maa’ and ‘Paa’ together for the first and last time.

In an interesting twist, Abhishek Bachchan, who is Amitabh Bachchan’s real-life son, plays his father in the film.

Vidya Balan delivers a compelling performance as the mother, while Amitabh Bachchan proves that he can still surprise audiences with his acting prowess.

Darlings (2022)

Badrunissa ‘Badru’ Shaikh (Alia Bhatt) is married to Hamza Shaikh (Vijay Varma), a senior ticket collector with the railways, who is also a chronic alcoholic.

Their marriage was born out of love.

Hamza has a habit of physically abusing Badru at his whim, initially blaming his actions on alcohol.

Badru, being submissive, forgives him each time and even prepares his favourite omelette the next morning.

She harbours the hope that he will quit drinking once he becomes a father.

However, her mother, Shamshunissa (Shefali Shah), who lives in the same chawl, disagrees.

Shamshunissa wishes for her daughter to separate from her abusive husband.

Despite the harsh realities, Badru, a romantic at heart, believes that love will eventually triumph.

A tragic event serves as a wake-up call for Badru.

She decides to retaliate, giving Hamza a taste of his own medicine.

This decision sets off a chain of events that spiral out of control until fate intervenes and restores order.

Throughout this ordeal, Shamshu, a resilient single mother, stands by her daughter Badru, who is trapped in an abusive marriage.

She is even prepared to kill her violent son-in-law to protect her daughter.

As we wrap up our list of five iconic Bollywood films to watch on Mother’s Day, we hope you found a movie or two that resonates with you and your mum.

Each of these Bollywood films beautifully encapsulates the essence of motherhood, making them perfect for a heartwarming movie marathon on Mother’s Day.

Remember, the day is all about celebrating your mum and the unique bond you share.

So, whether you’re laughing together at the comedic moments or reaching for the tissues during the emotional scenes, the most important thing is that you’re spending quality time together.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mums out there!