Not So Ideal? Changing Narrative Of Flawed Motherhood In Films

No more 'Mother India'? Well, Cinema has a long history of portraying mothers as saint figures. The role of a mother in moulding a person is considered crucial both in real and reel life. However, patronising and idealising mom characters on screen can often portray a wrongful and unrealistic depiction of mothers.

Like all others, mothers are flawed too. When everyone is celebrating moms around, it is important to celebrate the cinema that has broken the mould of traditional and unrealistic portrayals of on-screen mothers who are depicted as paragons of virtue and selflessness. 

Changing Narrative Of Flawed Motherhood In Films

This changing narrative of embracing complexities of real motherhood in cinema and nuanced portrayal of mothers who are ambitious, flawed, selfish, make mistakes, and downright unlikable too, shows the not-so-perfect reality and humanised mother figures.

Qala (2022)

The film depicts a controlling and manipulative stage mother who constantly pushes her daughter Qala to become a successful singer and take the family name and legacy forward. In comparison to partiality, Qala's mother never appreciates and sees her efforts. Breaking free from her mother, Qala turns a rebellion however and becomes what her mom always wanted her to be, but her internal struggles and haunting past lead to tragic consequences, highlighting the damaging effects of such parenting.

Darlings (2022)

This dark comedy with the triggering theme of domestic violence depicts the best mother-daughter relationship in a tough situation. The duo of Badru (Alia Bhatt) and Shamshu (Shefali Shah) fight Badru's abuser. Shamshu has redefined the role of the mother on-screen by breaking the stereotypical on-screen portrayal. She not only helps her daughter teach a lesson to her abuser by suggesting all unethical ways but also becomes her partner-in-crime. Despite the bold portrayal, Shamshu reveals her not-so-ideal past and helps Badru to break the generational chain of abuse.

Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)

The film busting the dark secrets of a picture-perfect family had a deeply written character of the mother, Neelam Mehra, played by Shefali Shah. Shah's character initially seemed infuriating to many as she not only played blind to her children's tribulations for societal status but also asked her daughter to "adjust" to an emotionally unavailable husband. While Neelam might seem unhelpful, it was later explored how she had her struggles with body image issues, a disrespectful partner, eating disorders and was a survivor of generational gender norms fed to women.

Lost Daughters (2021)

Depiction of motherhood like never seen before! A middle-aged professor on vacation played by Olivia Coleman is fixated on a young mother played by Dakota Johnson. These two mothers are a comparison of societal "good mother" and "bad mother" labels on screen as the two are in awe of the unconventional choices made by each other and explore the complexities of motherhood and a woman's desires, guilt, and not-so-selfless choices.

Lady Bird (2017)

This coming-of-age story explores the complicated relationship between a strong-willed teenage girl, Lady Bird, and her loving but overbearing mother. The film authentically portrays the struggles of parent-child relationships during adolescence and the struggles of accepting each other as the dialogue rightfully depicts "You love me but why can't you like me?" 

Ginny & Georgia (2021)

This Netflix series takes a comedic look at the unconventional bond between a teenage daughter, Ginny, and her single teenage mother Georgia with a dark past and criminal history who would cross limits for her children. The series explores mother-daughter complexes of having a "better-looking" mother, questioning the mother's choices, feeling disconnected from each other, and hurtful fights, as Georgia makes questionable choices for her children, challenging traditional notions of motherhood.