When Mom hit theatres on July 7, 2017, few realised it would turn out to be the final major film of Sridevi, widely regarded as Bollywood's first female superstar. Built around a mother's revenge and the extremes of her love, this crime thriller won over critics on release and went on to break box office records across the world.
A Mother's Revenge And Sajal Ali's Tough Role
The story follows Devki Sabharwal, a mother who takes the law into her own hands to get justice for her stepdaughter Arya. That demanding role of Arya was played by Pakistani actress Sajal Ali, a genuinely challenging assignment in itself.
Rising tension between India and Pakistan at the time meant Sajal Ali could not travel to India to promote the film. But once it hit screens, her performance left everyone stunned. The scenes between Sridevi and Sajal Ali, bitter at first and deeply emotional later, are still recalled in film circles today. Sridevi herself considered Sajal like her own daughter, and she grew visibly emotional while speaking about her in an interview.
From Indian Screens To A Blockbuster Run In China
Mom turned into a major blockbuster not just in India but on the international stage as well. Strong word of mouth among Indian audiences helped it do excellent business at home. But the film's real strength showed up in 2019, when it released in China.
The film opened far bigger than expected at the Chinese box office and raked in crores rapidly there. Put together, Mom earned more than 150 crore rupees worldwide, a massive achievement at the time for a female centric film.
Nawazuddin, Akshaye Khanna And A R Rahman's Score
The film's success did not rest on Sridevi's stardom alone. Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Akshaye Khanna's powerful acting played an equally big part. Nawazuddin Siddiqui played a detective named Dayashankar Kapoor with such a distinct style that audiences struggled to recognise him. Akshaye Khanna, playing a tough police officer, added further edge to the film's thrill. Through it all, A R Rahman's background score and music became the film's backbone, deepening the intensity of every scene.
Sridevi's Final And Biggest Honour
Sridevi's sudden death in February 2018 shocked the world. Some time later, at the 65th National Film Awards, she was given the National Award for Best Actress posthumously for her performance in Mom. It stood as the country's final and biggest tribute to her extraordinary career. Nine years after its release, Mom's suspense, its emotional depth and Sridevi's fearless screen presence remain just as alive in audiences' hearts as they were on day one.
