Mother's Day 2019: From Sridevi to Seema Pahwa - These contemporary onscreen mothers have won hearts in recent years

Mom (2017) 

Usually, it was the son who went on a rampage avenging an atrocity afflicted on his mother. But it was the other way round in Sridevi’s last film. In Mom,  a biology teacher, Devki, goes after her stepdaughter Arya’s rapists. From castrating to poisoning with apple seeds to framing one of them and finally shooting a culprit, there’s no stopping her. The carnage aside, she was shown as a popular teacher and a loving stepmom who does everything to be accepted by her stepdaughter.

Tumhari Sulu (2017)

A simple, independent and hard-working middle-class lady, Sulu was as delightful as it gets and quite funny, too. She brings up her son with utmost sincerity while pursuing her own dreams. One’s heart went out to her when her young son runs away, leaving her distraught. 

Helicopter Eela (2018) 

Even though Kajol was a helicopter parent in the film, she dressed cool, danced, sang and was a bubbly young mum. She joins her son’s (Riddhi Sen) college to complete her studies and mingles with the young crowd. And, how many mothers have we seen giving an electrifying stage performance?

Secret Superstar (2017) 

Enduring domestic violence is problematic, but no one can fault Najma Malik (Meher) as a mother. She encourages her daughter Insia (Zaira Wasim) to follow her dream of becoming a musician and does everything she can to that end. She buys her a laptop by selling off her jewellery and when time comes, she walks away from her oppressive husband to stand by Insia as she reaches for the stars.

Ki & Ka (2016)

The movie itself was quite unconventional — about a stay-at-home husband and working wife who was averse to having kids. While most other mums, onscreen or off it, wouldn’t have been cool with that, Kareena Kapoor Khan’s mother in the movie, played by Swaroop Sampat, was. Not just that, she also wanted her daughter to test physical compatibility before saying I do.

Khoobsurat (2014) 

Manju (Kirron) may not have been a modern mum in terms of her looks, but who wouldn’t love to have her as a parent? She’s more of a friend to Sonam K 
Ahuja’s character Milli and gives her daughter enough freedom to call her by her first name. The loud Punjabi woman looks out for her kid every step of the way and the two can discuss everything from love to heartbreak and more. One can also see where Milli gets her quirkiness and full-of-life demeanour from.

Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) 

It was in Dum Laga Ke Haisha that Seema Pahwa first got noticed for her turn as a maa. In the movie, though she wants her daughter, played by Bhumi Pednekar, to return to her husband in spite of being humiliated there, she also stands by her in her decision to get a divorce.

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017) 

In Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, she talks about sex with her soon-to-be-married offspring Sugandha (Bhumi again). She uses metaphorical examples to educate the young woman about consummating her wedding. Who can forget the comparison between a woman’s body and treasure hidden in a cave?

Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017)

The actress, however, hit it straight out of the park in Bareilly Ki Barfi as Susheela Sharma. She played mother to a livewire girl Bitti (Kriti Sanon) and had small-town eccentricity to her. While she cursed Bitti for being rejected by suitors all the time, she also wanted the best groom for her girl. What’s more, apart from accepting her daughter’s so-called flaws like smoking and break dancing, she also raises her to be individualistic and fierce.

Nil Battey Sannata (2015) 

Chanda Sahay (Swara) is a school dropout and single parent who works as a domestic help to support her daughter Apeksha. She cannot afford to pay maths 
tuition fees, so she goes to the extent of joining school to learn the subject, so that she can teach the young girl. She works at a restaurant and attends school as her own interest in studies is rekindled. Swara gave a stellar performance in the movie.