Just a little dream...

   To 'MOM'....with love!

After a long time, it was a pleasure to see a movie which 'literally' drives home a point- relationships cannot be taken for granted. Because we are born to a set of parents, does not really mean that those parents may live up to the responsibility of parenting. 

And yes, Parenting indeed, is a big life transforming responsibility we take on. It is simply never told to us when are excited to step into the world of parenting. Not many are aware of the hard work, sacrifices and pains that parents have to go through to bring up a set of well-grounded individuals, who will (hopefully) in future replicate the model.

The movie 'MOM' is an excellent take on how to fit into the shoes of a parent or a daughter. It does not occur to Arya (the rape victim) who is extremely volatile and angry, full of ego and cannot accept what she does not like, that she has to grow up to become a daughter as well. Every relation has to be worked upon. It is just that when we are born to a family, the insults and hurts are forgiven willfully because there are mammoth emotions attached to those umbilical cords. 

Here, there is a mother who is trying extremely hard to be accepted as one; and a daughter who is refusing to accept what God has given to her in the form of a MOM. The result is a gruesome act that is committed and Arya forces herself to battle with those myriad emotions single handed. She comfortably (yet again) shuts her mother off, who has sleepless nights in the hospital where Arya is lying battling for life. 

Her withdrawal leads her to take refuge in anger that is vetted at her step-mother, who is an epitome of gentility and motherly emotion. SriDevi as Devki does an excellent job (sometimes exaggerated) of a mother who is going through a turmoil within and battling blows from the outside.  I don't think any other actor could have done justice to such a complicated emotional portrayal. 

For all that Devki is determined to do, Arya continues to rebuke and give away caustic remarks for free. There is no end to the acid she has within her heart. Call it the cycle of cause and effect, her unwarranted hatret for her step mother who means well for her, comes to her in a very gory form, which she bravely battles without giving up on life. Many times in the movie, it has been mentioned, "She is a brave and strong girl." 


Evidently, it isn't biological birth that makes you a replica of your parent, but it is the atmosphere and grooming which creates your character. 

Maybe the strength to fight and not give up comes to Arya from her step mother, who goes all out and declares war over injustice, finally winning Arya to her side, who in the end of the movie realises that no one can protect and fight for her more than her 'MOM.'

One thing that comes out very clearly is that being a woman who is cosmopolitan and has a voice, does not mean you throw caution to wind. Be it a male or female (the reflection here is a little subdued) ego is a big game for both. Men are easily hurt because they don't know how to manage it; but women should exercise wisdom in not rubbing-in the obvious. Arya's arrogance puts her in a fragile spot; not that the act of four men taking advantage of a young girl who is 'obviously' not physically strong enough to handle them, is ever justified. 

Nawazuddin Sidiqqui adds a completely different taste to the rather tightly packed movie- a breath of fresh air in his sensitive portrayal as a detective and concerned father. Akshay Khanna has seasoned as fine wine and its a pleasure to see his sex appeal as he has crossed the 40's bracket (somethings definitely look better with time).  I do hope to see more of him and I wish directors can tailor make roles for this fine actor. 

Watch the movie to learn about parenting, about how to respect bonds, how to learn to appreciate what is given to you, how to exercise wisdom.