Cast: Sridevi Boney Kapoor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Akshaye Khanna, Adnan Siddiqui, Sajal Ali, Abhimanyu Singh, Vikas Verma, Pitobash
Director: Ravi Udyawar
Music & Background Score: A R Rahman
Duration: 146 minutes
While going for the movie 'Mom', if you are looking forward to re-experience the trademark effervescence and demureness of Sridevi, like the characters she played in 'Chaalbaaz' (1989) or 'Lamhe' (1991), then you are mistaken! And for this very reason, if you decide to totally skip watching 'Mom', then you cannot be more mistaken!
As she has herself quoted in one of her recent interviews, "Dance, games ... wo sab toh ho gaya na, ab sirf acting (done with dance and play ... now only acting), Sridevi in her second inning is a pure powerhouse of talent sans any makeup, glam wear or dance number. She proved her mettle as a strong, dignified and effective middle aged actress in 'English Vinglish' (2012) and she has further cemented her new avatar with 'Mom', so much so that, if she signs another movie, then speculating her in a 'jhintak' or sensual dance number would seem brash and almost sinful, like the way you would feel by attaching similar thoughts to a reverred 'sadhvi' or lady guru! Now, this is called 'fultu' image makeover!
--- Story Starts ---
Devki Sabarwal (Sridevi) is a hands-on and considerate urban homemaker and a disciplinarian biology teacher, who likes to incorporate elements of fun in her teachings but cannot tolerate her students crossing their lines of decorum.
So, once during her lecture, when Mohit sends a porn video to Arya (Sajal Ali), whom he happens to fancy, Devki simply throws his mobile phone outside the window and asks him to call his parents.
Arya also happens to be Devki's step-daughter who refuses to accept Devki as her Mom and is curt towards all her gestures of love and consideration. However, she is close to her father Anand Sabarwal (Adnan Siddiqui) and loving towards her kid step-sister!
Later, at a happening Valentine's Day party, based at a farmhouse, Mohit tries to have a dance with Arya in vain. Charles Diwan (Vikas Verma), an elder cousin of Mohit tries to offer a narcotics laced drink to Arya, but she refuses that as well. Tired of all these gimmicks, Arya makes way to head for home. While trying to arrange for her transport, she gets abducted and thrown into an SUV by Mohit, Charles, Jagan (Abhimanyu Singh), their drug supplier with criminal record and Baburam (Pitobash), the watchman on duty.
Next what you see is an aerial shot of a black SUV moving on deserted roads. The SUV stops at a crossing wherein the driver and passenger from the back seat get out, hug each other and interchange their seats. After sometime, a battered and unconscious Arya is thrown out of the car and kicked into a nearby drain.
During the time of this mishap, Anand Sabarwal happens to be on a business tour. Thus, by the time he returns, Devki Sabarwal is singularly involved in the following actions - searching and lodging FIR for her missing daughter, reaching the hospital upon receiving her news and gasping, shrieking and breaking down upon realizing that her daughter's modesty has been violated by multiple perpetrators causing her massive internal bleeding. She is further informed that, perhaps an attempt was made to strangle Arya to death, which has made her breathings weak!
CBI officer Mathew Francis (Akshaye Khanna) comes into picture. Once Arya is conscious, her statements are recorded, the four alleged culprits are taken into custody, medical examinations are sought and a court case is brought into action. But due to the absence of concrete evidences, effective alibis and some staged reporting by the forensics department, all the four accused are set free!
The whole experience turns Arya into a fear laden and filled with rage recluse, who henceforth spends every following night recalling the horror of that fateful night. This further distances her with Devki.
Devki is also engulfed by the sheer pain and trauma of the mishap. Alongside, she finds it quite difficult to witness Arya's state of tremble and shock, as well as, the increased distance between both of them.
It is then, that she silently decides to take matters in her own hands. Teaming up with peculiarly 'desi' but effective Dayashankar Kapoor aka DK (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a private detective, she collects the required information on each of the four perpetrators and bestows on each of them, a well strategized and befitting punishment. You need to see the movie to find out the nature and methodology of each of the punishments, which comprise of - imprisonment, physical incapacitation, castration and even death!
--- Story Ends ---
The movie 'Mom' is quite well scripted. Each act or outburst has a relevance with the then psychology of the concerned character. In fact all the characterizations are well penned keeping the pivotal story in mind.
See for yourself -
- Would a demure Devki ever know about making cyanide if she was not a science teacher?
- Would Arya link her mishap with Devki, if earlier Devki did not throw away Mohit's phone? And would Devki still walk the dangerous path of revenge if there was no further increase in distance between her and her step-daughter?
- Would DK assist Devki in her dangerous mission, if he himself was not a parent of a teenage daughter?
'No' would be the answer to all the aforesaid questions, thereby proving the fact that the movie's storyline is laced with a the strong sense of logic.
Thankfully, there is no direct picturization of the horrible mishap. But the gruesome nature of the act is conveyed with effect. Also, the police attitude while lodging of FIR is shown in a respectable light.
Ravi Udyawar is quite impressive as the first time director. He has well handled, both the subject and the stalwart star cast. He has refrained from making any attempt to showcase the stars and their popular attributes above and beyond the movie, which is quite commendable. The background music and seven songs are directed by A R Rahman. Songs are average and the background score merges seamlessly with the movie. At times, it also well accentuates the prevelant mood.
Sridevi as the shocked and grieving mother is terrific. With this role play, she has introduced an altogether different style of acting in Bollywood. One wonders, what kind of emotional depth and turmoil she must have reached to derive such powerful acting!
'Mom' marks the 50th year and 300th film of Sridevi's career and what a celebration it is to watch the perennial diva back at the top of her game.
Adnan Siddiqui, the Pakistani actor looks quite handsome and befits the role of a middle aged family man and entrepreneur. In fact he is so handsome that you wish that our home grown Sridevi should have shown a tiny slice of her yesteryear 'jalwa', just to counteract Adnan's good looking presence! Sajal Ali, who is also a young Pakistani actress has acted well. Akshaye Khanna has followed his old school of intense and little broodish acting. He looks quite fit and handsome and brings that tad bit of eye candy on screen, whenever he appears. Nawazuddin Siddiqui as DK is a revelation with semi bald head and buck teeth. How does he even creates such different caricatures in his mind one after the other! As usual, it's a treat to watch him act and bring those small bits of much required silly comedies to an otherwise serious film. Rest of the star cast has also acted well.
Last but not the least, a few words on the impact of movie 'Mom' and how it differs from other similar movies -
The subject of 'Mom' is not new. Any well made movie that revolves around such subject invokes the emotion of sympathy for the victim, but the emotion invoked for what she has undergone is still that of shame. This is sad yet true! But when you watch 'Mom', the emotions that you attach with the victim's ordeal and suffering are not your own, but the ones felt by her sensitive and loving mother!
Resultantly, you feel a strong sense of compassion and guardianship towards the victim and feel like providing calm to her nerves in any manner you can. Her mishap does not alter her identity in your eyes. You actually feel like a Mom and that gives you the will power to accept it all without an iota of shame or care in the world!
Director: Ravi Udyawar
Music & Background Score: A R Rahman
Duration: 146 minutes
While going for the movie 'Mom', if you are looking forward to re-experience the trademark effervescence and demureness of Sridevi, like the characters she played in 'Chaalbaaz' (1989) or 'Lamhe' (1991), then you are mistaken! And for this very reason, if you decide to totally skip watching 'Mom', then you cannot be more mistaken!
As she has herself quoted in one of her recent interviews, "Dance, games ... wo sab toh ho gaya na, ab sirf acting (done with dance and play ... now only acting), Sridevi in her second inning is a pure powerhouse of talent sans any makeup, glam wear or dance number. She proved her mettle as a strong, dignified and effective middle aged actress in 'English Vinglish' (2012) and she has further cemented her new avatar with 'Mom', so much so that, if she signs another movie, then speculating her in a 'jhintak' or sensual dance number would seem brash and almost sinful, like the way you would feel by attaching similar thoughts to a reverred 'sadhvi' or lady guru! Now, this is called 'fultu' image makeover!
--- Story Starts ---
Devki Sabarwal (Sridevi) is a hands-on and considerate urban homemaker and a disciplinarian biology teacher, who likes to incorporate elements of fun in her teachings but cannot tolerate her students crossing their lines of decorum.
So, once during her lecture, when Mohit sends a porn video to Arya (Sajal Ali), whom he happens to fancy, Devki simply throws his mobile phone outside the window and asks him to call his parents.
Arya also happens to be Devki's step-daughter who refuses to accept Devki as her Mom and is curt towards all her gestures of love and consideration. However, she is close to her father Anand Sabarwal (Adnan Siddiqui) and loving towards her kid step-sister!
Later, at a happening Valentine's Day party, based at a farmhouse, Mohit tries to have a dance with Arya in vain. Charles Diwan (Vikas Verma), an elder cousin of Mohit tries to offer a narcotics laced drink to Arya, but she refuses that as well. Tired of all these gimmicks, Arya makes way to head for home. While trying to arrange for her transport, she gets abducted and thrown into an SUV by Mohit, Charles, Jagan (Abhimanyu Singh), their drug supplier with criminal record and Baburam (Pitobash), the watchman on duty.
Next what you see is an aerial shot of a black SUV moving on deserted roads. The SUV stops at a crossing wherein the driver and passenger from the back seat get out, hug each other and interchange their seats. After sometime, a battered and unconscious Arya is thrown out of the car and kicked into a nearby drain.
During the time of this mishap, Anand Sabarwal happens to be on a business tour. Thus, by the time he returns, Devki Sabarwal is singularly involved in the following actions - searching and lodging FIR for her missing daughter, reaching the hospital upon receiving her news and gasping, shrieking and breaking down upon realizing that her daughter's modesty has been violated by multiple perpetrators causing her massive internal bleeding. She is further informed that, perhaps an attempt was made to strangle Arya to death, which has made her breathings weak!
CBI officer Mathew Francis (Akshaye Khanna) comes into picture. Once Arya is conscious, her statements are recorded, the four alleged culprits are taken into custody, medical examinations are sought and a court case is brought into action. But due to the absence of concrete evidences, effective alibis and some staged reporting by the forensics department, all the four accused are set free!
The whole experience turns Arya into a fear laden and filled with rage recluse, who henceforth spends every following night recalling the horror of that fateful night. This further distances her with Devki.
Devki is also engulfed by the sheer pain and trauma of the mishap. Alongside, she finds it quite difficult to witness Arya's state of tremble and shock, as well as, the increased distance between both of them.
It is then, that she silently decides to take matters in her own hands. Teaming up with peculiarly 'desi' but effective Dayashankar Kapoor aka DK (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a private detective, she collects the required information on each of the four perpetrators and bestows on each of them, a well strategized and befitting punishment. You need to see the movie to find out the nature and methodology of each of the punishments, which comprise of - imprisonment, physical incapacitation, castration and even death!
--- Story Ends ---
The movie 'Mom' is quite well scripted. Each act or outburst has a relevance with the then psychology of the concerned character. In fact all the characterizations are well penned keeping the pivotal story in mind.
See for yourself -
- Would a demure Devki ever know about making cyanide if she was not a science teacher?
- Would Arya link her mishap with Devki, if earlier Devki did not throw away Mohit's phone? And would Devki still walk the dangerous path of revenge if there was no further increase in distance between her and her step-daughter?
- Would DK assist Devki in her dangerous mission, if he himself was not a parent of a teenage daughter?
'No' would be the answer to all the aforesaid questions, thereby proving the fact that the movie's storyline is laced with a the strong sense of logic.
Thankfully, there is no direct picturization of the horrible mishap. But the gruesome nature of the act is conveyed with effect. Also, the police attitude while lodging of FIR is shown in a respectable light.
Ravi Udyawar is quite impressive as the first time director. He has well handled, both the subject and the stalwart star cast. He has refrained from making any attempt to showcase the stars and their popular attributes above and beyond the movie, which is quite commendable. The background music and seven songs are directed by A R Rahman. Songs are average and the background score merges seamlessly with the movie. At times, it also well accentuates the prevelant mood.
Sridevi as the shocked and grieving mother is terrific. With this role play, she has introduced an altogether different style of acting in Bollywood. One wonders, what kind of emotional depth and turmoil she must have reached to derive such powerful acting!
'Mom' marks the 50th year and 300th film of Sridevi's career and what a celebration it is to watch the perennial diva back at the top of her game.
Adnan Siddiqui, the Pakistani actor looks quite handsome and befits the role of a middle aged family man and entrepreneur. In fact he is so handsome that you wish that our home grown Sridevi should have shown a tiny slice of her yesteryear 'jalwa', just to counteract Adnan's good looking presence! Sajal Ali, who is also a young Pakistani actress has acted well. Akshaye Khanna has followed his old school of intense and little broodish acting. He looks quite fit and handsome and brings that tad bit of eye candy on screen, whenever he appears. Nawazuddin Siddiqui as DK is a revelation with semi bald head and buck teeth. How does he even creates such different caricatures in his mind one after the other! As usual, it's a treat to watch him act and bring those small bits of much required silly comedies to an otherwise serious film. Rest of the star cast has also acted well.
Last but not the least, a few words on the impact of movie 'Mom' and how it differs from other similar movies -
The subject of 'Mom' is not new. Any well made movie that revolves around such subject invokes the emotion of sympathy for the victim, but the emotion invoked for what she has undergone is still that of shame. This is sad yet true! But when you watch 'Mom', the emotions that you attach with the victim's ordeal and suffering are not your own, but the ones felt by her sensitive and loving mother!
Resultantly, you feel a strong sense of compassion and guardianship towards the victim and feel like providing calm to her nerves in any manner you can. Her mishap does not alter her identity in your eyes. You actually feel like a Mom and that gives you the will power to accept it all without an iota of shame or care in the world!
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