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Review: 'Mom' propels the raw power of desi motherhood to a cathartic but troubling conclusion

Review: 'Mom' propels the raw power of desi motherhood to a cathartic but troubling conclusion

When a heinous crime is committed against her daughter, Devki (Sridevi) finds herself taking the law into her hands
Updated 11 Jul, 2017

Mom is the latest addition to the recent spate of sexual assault revenge sagas such as Pink, Anaarkali of Aarah and Maatr.

As the title suggests, and make no mistake, this is a Sridevi film, one that focuses on her as the central protagonist and effectively showcases her range of talent.

Despite the domestic tensions between Arya (Sajal Ali) and her step-mom Devaki (Sridevi), Arya lives a charmed life – she has a teenage crush, a doting dad and a weekend party that she'll attend with her friends. But all that changes in an instant. In an allusion to the 2012 Delhi rape case, Arya is gang-raped in a moving car and left for dead. She survives, but in her place is a hollow shadow of a girl, fighting for life, afraid of light and even a kind touch.

Thrust into this nightmare, her parents Anand (Adnan Siddiqui) and Devaki struggle to get justice for their daughter – each in their own way. Anand puts his faith in the law and Devaki, whose inner Kali is awakened by her need for vigilante justice, sets out on a path less travelled.

Director Ravi Udyawar creates detailed frames with camera angles, props - overflowing water bottles, insidious masala grinders, the eerily disturbing image of a car driving on lonely streets - and colours that take on significance as the story progresses.

While the premise of Mom begs for some suspension of disbelief, it is the riveting performances that hold the narrative together despite its flaws. Sridevi is nothing short of spectacular and she really makes you realise to what extent Bollywood is awash in mediocre talent.

He also relies on the power of suggestion to suss out a character’s motivation and propel the plot - a sniff of a line of coke, curtains pulled shut, and a near fatal crash leading Devaki to the realisation that even a lone avenger needs a side kick.

Here Devaki's sidekick takes on the delightful shape of an uncanny, family-loving detective DK (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). Siddiqui takes to his character with relish and the rich images of his family life and a loving glance at his daughter are all we need to understand why he agrees to help Devaki pull off some unbelievable situations.

Early on her path to revenge, Devki (Sridevi) realises she needs a side-kick
Early on her path to revenge, Devki (Sridevi) realises she needs a side-kick

While the premise begs for some suspension of disbelief, it is the riveting performances that hold the narrative together despite its flaws. Scenes go on for too long and lose their impact, and psychological scars of the rape victim and how her family copes are skated over. But then again, this is not their story.

Sridevi is nothing short of spectacular and it really makes you realise to what extent Bollywood is awash in mediocre talent. Her control over her gestures, intensity and vulnerability perfectly match her talented co-stars. It is a pleasure to see Sajal Ali and Adnan Siddiqui hold their own alongside her.

Ali impressively holds her own as the vivacious Arya whose life is turned upside down
Ali impressively holds her own as the vivacious Arya whose life is turned upside down

Sajal Ali, one of our talented and perennially youthful looking actress, has often been seen in a range of roles. She also had experience with similar roles as the victim of sexual assault in Chup Raho as well as one of marital rape in Gul-e-Rana.

While in these she had to bow down to traditions, at least in Mom, she voices the pain of a rape victim. Ali gives a fine tuned and sensitive performance from helplessness and heartbreak and to finally, healing and acceptance.

Adnan Siddiqui plays his role of a shattered but optimistic father well
Adnan Siddiqui plays his role of a shattered but optimistic father well

Adnan Siddiqui who also has graced our TV (most recently in Sammi) and silver (A Mighty Heart, Yalgaar) screens unfortunately has little to do but look handsome, which he does effortlessly. His guilt, and attempts to maintain poise and dignity are at the heart of his portrayal of the hurt and impotent rage of a father in this terrible ordeal. His paternal moments with Arya are lovely and tender and showcase the depth of their relationship without much need for dialogue.

Stellar performances by Akshaye Khanna, Abhimanyu Singh and the entire supporting cast round out the film - there is not one character who is out of place. Other production houses and directors with firmer backbones should take note on how to put talent ahead of chiseled mid-riffs and nationality.

The film also gives us a glimpse of many Indias, from the immaculate homes of the rich to Delhi’s underbelly of subways and metros; from Daryaganj’s jumble of shops and overhead electric wiring to middle-income living rooms.

Interestingly, Mom also gives us a glimpse of many Indias. From the immaculate homes of the rich, to Delhi’s underbelly of subways and metros, Daryaganj’s jumble of shops and overhead electric wiring, low and middle-income living rooms, drug-fueled farm house parties, sepia-tinted claustrophobic court rooms, to Arya and Anand’s eloquent Hindi/Urdu clashing with Devaki’s Tamil inflected speech all intersect with the realities of a diverse India.

Within this also emerge disturbing acts of violence - of greed and lust, of showing women and minorities their right place, and where even privilege and power aren’t enough to get justice.

Mom ends with an undeniably cathartic resolution – if courts and laws can’t give us justice, at least our films can.

But as a mirror to the times we live in with political vigilantes on the loose, taking the law and lives into their own hands, you can’t help but wonder if this message skews in their favour.

Comments

common & immaterial Jul 10, 2017 03:24pm
thanks for spilling out secret so soon....
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Jalbani Jul 10, 2017 04:01pm
No spoiler alert nothing, this is not good and extremely unprofessional!!
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Sadaf Zubair Jul 10, 2017 04:06pm
After watching the movie along with my mum I came to the conclusion that these girls should not be called rape "victims" rather they should be called rape survivors...my younger brother asked my mum if she would have shot the guy she said "even if I didn't have a gun, I would have ensured he died." This movie shook me to the core although I kept reminding myself that its "just" a movie, I cried my eyes out after getting home, in the office, while offering my prayers because something this horrendous has happened and will happen to a lot of Aryas and their mums might not be able to avenge them..to them my love, my light, my million prayers...
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Kashif Jul 10, 2017 04:38pm
Excellent writeup!
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Saman Jul 10, 2017 04:43pm
Thank you for revealing the plot in such detail..... Now I don't need to go to the cinema
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Salim Badruddin Jul 10, 2017 08:18pm
Watched this movie. It is awesome. Worth the money. Good work guys.
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san(india) Jul 10, 2017 08:37pm
Good movie....Watched this movie in nearby Mall Cinepolis. Liked it very much. Acting was superb , specially of Sridevi and Navazuddin. Hall was almost full of the spectators.
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DANIYAL Jul 11, 2017 01:13am
I just came back from watching this...AND PEOPLE YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS. This movie is amazing. Sridevi is absolutely spectacular & I was once again nostalgic of my past CRUSH on her. The movie is superb.
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Roohi rauf Jul 11, 2017 04:17am
I have not watched the movie but all trailor cast,storey and songs in it give me temptation to go for it.Being a health worker i really think upon the medication of love and security that is provided at home and that is the backbone of this film We all know what is happening in our suroundings. Lets hope we can erradicate injustice from our society.IndoPak can be nurtured with education and strong courts for justice.
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Pranitha Jul 11, 2017 04:28am
@Sadaf Zubair in reality,they are survivors. In movie, they got victimized twice. Once when she got raped and then when her step-mom became murderer to give the girl closure! Thank god, in real world they actually move on with their lives and find happiness. Don't have to live with all those murders sticking to their souls all their lives. You can move on from other's wrongs far more easily than from your own wrong/guilt.
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P.R.Koduri Jul 11, 2017 05:19am
Many thanks for this wonderful review and more so for its sociological perspective. The actors themselves could'nt be happier.
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