You are here:

Mother

Name: Mother
Director: Saawan Kumar Tak
Released: 1999
Duration: 142 min

Representation Score

7.2/10

Good

1999

Director

Saawan Kumar Tak

Runtime

142 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Mother (1999) stands out for its focus on women's ability to drive the story and the subversion of traditional maternal archetypes. By centering on Asha, a woman navigating the fallout of multiple romantic entanglements, the film moves away from passive female roles common in its era. However, the film lacks multi-layered breadth. It remains confined to straight-centered structures and an ethnically homogeneous cast, missing opportunities to explore queer identities or diverse racial dynamics despite its international setting. Ultimately, the film is a character study of resilience. It succeeds in deconstructing rigid social morality through its protagonist's wits, even if it fails to represent broader social spectrums like disability or LGBTQ+ identities.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Mother have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or relationships outside of heterosexual norms. The focus remains on traditional romantic entanglements.

How does Mother portray gender?

Good

Asha is a strong female lead who makes her own choices and survives by her wits. She plays a significant role in driving the story forward.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Mother?

Fair

The cast and setting are ethnically uniform. The film does not delve into the multi-layered dynamics of race and ethnicity.

How does Mother represent religion and culture?

Good

The story challenges traditional moral absolutes by showing empathy towards the protagonist's past actions. It prioritizes personal stability over strict societal or religious morality.

Does Mother include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature characters with visible or invisible disabilities. Disability is not used for character development.

Present on Screen

Features a strong female protagonist who demonstrates a significant role in driving the story and survival skills.
Subverts traditional domestic archetypes by centering a woman's independent choices.
Challenges rigid moral absolutes through a lens of narrative empathy.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight-centered identities.
Does not incorporate characters with visible or invisible disabilities.
Does not explore multi-layered racial dynamics despite the international setting.

Official Synopsis

Single and lusty Asha's (Rekha) affairs with three men (Randhir Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan, Jeetendra) lands her with a baby-girl, and she must relocate to distant Mauritius to start life anew. She makes up a story about her husband, Mr. Brittania, while admitting her daughter in school, heroically saving lives of numerous Indians and being unable to save himself. Now Asha has a grown up daughter, Jiya (Sanober Kabir). She finds out that Jiya wants to marry Mrs. Chaudhary's (Shashikala) grandson, Raj (Rahat Khan). Asha's three beaus also contact her one by one that they will be coming, with their respective wives and families to tow, to visit Mauritius. Asha's past is now coming back to haunt her, and Asha must use all her wits to see herself through this crisis.

How are these scores produced? →