And in other important news, here’s a book I’m excited about.
This is a Zubaan anthology around the theme of motherhood, edited by Jaishree Misra and published in association with Save the Children India. It has stories, essays and poems by many fine writers including Urvashi Butalia, Mridula Koshy, Nisha Susan, Namita Gokhale and Shashi Deshpande. And, ahem, pardon me for preening like a peacock, but it turns out that I am the book’s sole Y-chromosome (or as Jaishree puts it, “our Token Male”). My essay is about depictions of motherhood in Hindi cinema – a predominantly light-hearted piece that (among many other things) touches on the maternal dolphin in Ajooba, the murder-by-electric-guitar scene in Disco Dancer, and the never-to-be-forgotten sight of a snake reluctantly dining on breast milk in Doodh ka Karz. (Little wonder that the title of the piece is the same as the title of this post.) I have also, as I do in everything I write, included a (very brief) reference to Psycho and Mrs Bates.
So do look out for the book - a launch is happening at the Jaipur literature festival on January 25 (schedule here), and copies will be available there.
This is a Zubaan anthology around the theme of motherhood, edited by Jaishree Misra and published in association with Save the Children India. It has stories, essays and poems by many fine writers including Urvashi Butalia, Mridula Koshy, Nisha Susan, Namita Gokhale and Shashi Deshpande. And, ahem, pardon me for preening like a peacock, but it turns out that I am the book’s sole Y-chromosome (or as Jaishree puts it, “our Token Male”). My essay is about depictions of motherhood in Hindi cinema – a predominantly light-hearted piece that (among many other things) touches on the maternal dolphin in Ajooba, the murder-by-electric-guitar scene in Disco Dancer, and the never-to-be-forgotten sight of a snake reluctantly dining on breast milk in Doodh ka Karz. (Little wonder that the title of the piece is the same as the title of this post.) I have also, as I do in everything I write, included a (very brief) reference to Psycho and Mrs Bates.
So do look out for the book - a launch is happening at the Jaipur literature festival on January 25 (schedule here), and copies will be available there.
12 comments:
There's a snake dining (even if reluctantly) on breast milk in Doodh Ka Karz? Why has no one told me about this? Am I the only one who doesn't know?
Radhika: well, in the interests of accuracy it must be added that the breast milk is in a makeshift saucer (I've linked to the video of the scene) - this small fact makes the moment much more sombre and starkly realist, as you will no doubt agree.
hahaha! I must admit that the first mental picture that came to mind was a little kinky, but was immediately censored and a more Hindi-movie-acceptable receptacle was substituted!
Aww. I just watched the video. The scene is rather sweet! :D
The snake comes to think of Jackie Shroff as his brother, if I remember the plot right, and after many twists and turns they reunite in the end to fight the bad guys. It is a serpentine plot.
Talking of Psycho and Mrs Bates, the one "Maa" film in Hollywood which is terribly underrated is Raoul Walsh's White Heat.
It features Cagney's immortal breakdown upon hearing about his mother's demise.
The film was shot in 1949. And I wonder if it was the original "Maa" film possibly inspiring several Bollywood efforts.
Shrikanth: think I mentioned White Heat in the essay. But another seminal Cagney film from 18 years earlier, The Public Enemy, may have had an even stronger influence on the climactic sequence of Deewaar - with the tropes of the son promising his mother he will go straight at last, her joy at the impending reconciliation, and the tragic ending.
Thanks Arjun for the post. I read the piece in the proof sent to Save the Children. Thanks for joining us in this effort. See you at the launch. Pragya
Hi Pragya,
I doubt I'll be in Jaipur, but will definitely see you if you have an event in Delhi sometime. All the best for the book.
Jai: Yes. Had forgotten about The Public Enemy - arguably the first great sound film.
Also how about Madame Constantin in Notorious - a defining role that arguably may have inspired numerous stern and possessive screen mothers (including perhaps Hitchcock's own Mrs Bates).
Another inspirational "Maa" figure from classic Hollywood was Beulah Bondi who was to Jimmy Stewart what Nirupa Roy was to Bachchan!
Yes we will have a public launch in Delhi subsequently. Will keep you posted. Pragya
I agree with @Radhika. I watched the scene you linked to, and it is rather sweet in a gross sort of way. Just like most mainstream Bollywood of its time.
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