Motherhood is sacred — and quite irreplaceable. Over the years, cinema has portrayed all kinds of mothers, from quirky to overprotective, cool to dysfunctional, loving to livid. This Mother’s Day, My Kolkata celebrates every kind of mother in the world with a special watchlist. So, get your mom to free up her evening, grab a bucket of popcorn, and tune into a few of our favourite mothers on celluloid!
Everything Everywhere All at Once
This 2022 film had multiversal drama, jaw-dropping action, stirring visuals and profound nihilism, whilst also being a heartwarming family-drama. The Best Picture winner at the 2022 Oscars, Everything Everywhere has a contentious mother-daughter relationship at its centre, sparked by conflicting choices. Michelle Yeoh delivers a standout performance as an immigrant mom who is trying to bridge a massive generation gap. Over the course of the narrative, she rediscovers the life she never led due to familial sacrifice, a sentiment all too familiar with Indian moms. The wholesome ending drives home the message that nothing is more important than family.
Bird Box
If you’re looking for a sweet and sappy family film to enjoy with mom, this isn’t it! But if both of you love post-apocalyptic horror with a touch of sci-fi, this should be your pick. Sandra Bullock plays Malorie Hayes, a woman desperately trying to protect her children from mysterious life-threatening entities. The bone-chilling sequences inspire real fear, giving us a deeper perspective into how far a mother can go for her children’s safety.
Open Tee Bioscope
Sudipta Chakraborty and Riddhi Sen perfectly encapsulate the tug of war between adolescent angst and maternal concern in this slice-of-life film that brings a smile to our faces. The plot is centred around a young boy moving into a north Kolkata para to stay with his mom, after being expelled from his hostel. What ensues is a wholesome story of neighbourhood friends, first crushes and football. If your mom grew up in a quintessential north Kolkata para, this film will be a nostalgic ride for her!
English Vinglish
We often glorify the sacrifice of women when they become wives and mothers. But what about the individuality that they left behind? Gauri Shinde explores the magic of women who decide to reclaim their identity in this 2012 film, where a mother finds respect and self confidence through English lessons during an American trip, despite facing ridicule from her family. The film is doubly special for marking supermom Sridevi’s return to screen after her own hiatus due to familial commitments.
The Sky Is Pink
Inspired by the real story of Aisha Chaudhary, the film is about a mother who went above and beyond to make her terminally ill daughter’s dreams come true. Priyanka Chopra Jonas shines as the mother who overturned the entire universe, just so that her daughter could see herself become an author despite a ticking clock. Don’t watch this one without keeping a box of tissues handy.
Nil Battey Sannata
Sometimes, children don’t understand that mothers aren’t just caregivers, but people with real insecurities and desires. Nil Battey Sannata explores this concept, with a mother trying to motivate her daughter by studying alongside her, and in the process, finding a love for learning. The culmination of their journey, where they clear the SSC exam together, is the perfect metaphor for growing together with your parents.
Helicopter Eela
This 2018 dramedy touches upon several important notions about mothering. It proves that women don’t need a man to raise a child, while also reinforcing that both mothers and sons need space from each other in a healthy relationship. The epic finale reverses the roles, showing how sometimes children have to mentor their mothers to realise their dreams! Watch it for Riddhi Sen and Kajol’s brilliant chemistry, and the nuanced depiction of parental relationships.
Mukherjee Dar Bou
Pritha Chakraborty’s directorial debut features one of the most important relationships in a Bengali family: the one between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. It explores how a ‘mother’ can be anyone who exhibits certain qualities of care and affection, while depicting how close the two women get over years of conflict. The film epitomises the concept of womanhood by showcasing a bouma who stands up for her sasuri’s mental health, while depicting how patriarchal setups not only impact women, but men too. This film is worth watching not just with your mom, but your entire family!
