Mammo
Encyclopedia
Mammo is a film by Shyam Benegal
released in 1994. The film stars Farida Jalal
, Surekha Sikri
and Rajit Kapur
.
The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
in 1995. Farida Jalal won Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance, while Surekha Sikri
won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
. It was the first film of his Muslim
trilogy
, which included Sardari Begum
(1996) and Zubeidaa
(2001), and which he extend about a decade later with Well Done Abba
(2010).
), and her sister, Mehmooda Begum alias Mammo (Farida Jalal
). Quite outspoken and embittered over his dad abandoning him, Riyaz does not have many friends, save for Rohan. When Mammo plans a surprise birthday party for him, Riyaz is offended as he believes his friends will make fun of him as his lifestyle is not as good as theirs. Fayyuzi and Riyaz have an argument with Mammo, and she leaves for the Mosque at Haji Ali, but returns when both apologize to her. Although Mammo was born in Panipat during the British Raj, she was one of thousands of Muslims who left for Pakistan after Partition. She and her husband automatically become Pakistani citizens. Although childless, her marriage is a happy one until her husband's death. Over property matters, Mammo is thrown out of the house by her relatives.
Having nowhere else to go, she came to live with her widowed sister in Bombay on a temporary visa. Every month she would walk to the nearest police station and get an extension. She finally paid Rs.4800 as a bribe in order to get a permanent visa through Inspector Apte. When Apte was transferred, a new Police Inspector took over, processed her papers, held her to be an illegal immigrant, arrested her, had her escorted to the Bombay Central Railway Station and forced her to board the Frontier Mail, which would return her to Pakistan. Riyaz and Fayyuzi make every possible attempt to trace and bring her back, which was all in vain. Now 20 years later, Riyaz has grown up and has written a book about his Mammo, hoping that someday, somewhere she will find it and they will be reunited again.
The movie touches upon several emotional aspects of day-to-day life. Unable to extend her visa, she is deported back to Pakistan – political priorities defeat humanitarian ones! But the director has shown a happy ending where Mummo comes to Riyaz and her sister at the end. She pretends that she is dead so that she will continue to stay in India thereafter.
Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal is a prolific Indian director and screenwriter. With his first four feature films Ankur , Nishant Manthan and Bhumika he created a new genre, which has now come to be called the "middle cinema" in India although he himself has expressed dislike in the term preferring his work to...
released in 1994. The film stars Farida Jalal
Farida Jalal
- Career :Farida Jalal, a native of New Delhi, started her career in the 1960s, when she won the United Film Producers Talent Hunt sponsored by Filmfare. She usually played the sister or rejected fiancée of the male lead, but almost never the female lead...
, Surekha Sikri
Surekha Sikri
Surekha Sikri or Surekha Sikri Rege is Indian film, theatre and TV actor. She has won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress twice, for her role in Tamas in 1988 and for Mammo in 1995.-Early life and background:...
and Rajit Kapur
Rajit Kapur
Rajit Kapur is an Indian actor. He is particularly known for his award-winning portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in the 1996 film, The Making of the Mahatma. One of his most popular stints is his portrayal of Byomkesh Bakshi in a television series of the same name based on the character created by...
.
The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi awards the best regional film in Hindi language. Initially the award was known as the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The winners in this category are:...
in 1995. Farida Jalal won Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance, while Surekha Sikri
Surekha Sikri
Surekha Sikri or Surekha Sikri Rege is Indian film, theatre and TV actor. She has won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress twice, for her role in Tamas in 1988 and for Mammo in 1995.-Early life and background:...
won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
The National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress winners:...
. It was the first film of his Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
, which included Sardari Begum
Sardari Begum
Sardari Begum is a 1996 Hindi movie directed by Shyam Benegal. The film stars Kiron Kher, Amrish Puri and Rajit Kapur and Rajeshwari Sachdev....
(1996) and Zubeidaa
Zubeidaa
Zubeidaa is a 2001 Indian film directed by Shyam Benegal and written by Khalid Mohammed. It stars Karisma Kapoor, Rekha, Manoj Bajpai, Surekha Sikri, Rajit Kapoor, Lillete Dubey, Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, and Shakti Kapoor...
(2001), and which he extend about a decade later with Well Done Abba
Well Done Abba
Well Done Abba is a 2010 political satire Hindi film directed by Shyam Benegal, starring Boman Irani, Minissha Lamba and Sammir Dattani in pivotal roles. It is the remake of the 2007 Marathi film, Jau Tithe Khau It was based on three short stories: Narsaiyyan Ki Bavdi by Jeelani Bano, Phulwa Ka...
(2010).
Plot
13 year old Riyaz lives a poor lifestyle in Bombay, India, with his grandmother, Fayyuzi (Surekha SikriSurekha Sikri
Surekha Sikri or Surekha Sikri Rege is Indian film, theatre and TV actor. She has won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress twice, for her role in Tamas in 1988 and for Mammo in 1995.-Early life and background:...
), and her sister, Mehmooda Begum alias Mammo (Farida Jalal
Farida Jalal
- Career :Farida Jalal, a native of New Delhi, started her career in the 1960s, when she won the United Film Producers Talent Hunt sponsored by Filmfare. She usually played the sister or rejected fiancée of the male lead, but almost never the female lead...
). Quite outspoken and embittered over his dad abandoning him, Riyaz does not have many friends, save for Rohan. When Mammo plans a surprise birthday party for him, Riyaz is offended as he believes his friends will make fun of him as his lifestyle is not as good as theirs. Fayyuzi and Riyaz have an argument with Mammo, and she leaves for the Mosque at Haji Ali, but returns when both apologize to her. Although Mammo was born in Panipat during the British Raj, she was one of thousands of Muslims who left for Pakistan after Partition. She and her husband automatically become Pakistani citizens. Although childless, her marriage is a happy one until her husband's death. Over property matters, Mammo is thrown out of the house by her relatives.
Having nowhere else to go, she came to live with her widowed sister in Bombay on a temporary visa. Every month she would walk to the nearest police station and get an extension. She finally paid Rs.4800 as a bribe in order to get a permanent visa through Inspector Apte. When Apte was transferred, a new Police Inspector took over, processed her papers, held her to be an illegal immigrant, arrested her, had her escorted to the Bombay Central Railway Station and forced her to board the Frontier Mail, which would return her to Pakistan. Riyaz and Fayyuzi make every possible attempt to trace and bring her back, which was all in vain. Now 20 years later, Riyaz has grown up and has written a book about his Mammo, hoping that someday, somewhere she will find it and they will be reunited again.
The movie touches upon several emotional aspects of day-to-day life. Unable to extend her visa, she is deported back to Pakistan – political priorities defeat humanitarian ones! But the director has shown a happy ending where Mummo comes to Riyaz and her sister at the end. She pretends that she is dead so that she will continue to stay in India thereafter.
Cast and characters
- Farida JalalFarida Jalal- Career :Farida Jalal, a native of New Delhi, started her career in the 1960s, when she won the United Film Producers Talent Hunt sponsored by Filmfare. She usually played the sister or rejected fiancée of the male lead, but almost never the female lead...
as Mammo - Surekha SikriSurekha SikriSurekha Sikri or Surekha Sikri Rege is Indian film, theatre and TV actor. She has won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress twice, for her role in Tamas in 1988 and for Mammo in 1995.-Early life and background:...
as Fayyazi - Amit Phalke as Riyaz (Teenager)
- Rajit Kapoor as Riyaz (Adult)
- Himani ShivpuriHimani ShivpuriHimani Shivpuri, is Indian, film, theatre and television actress, who is most known for her role in Sooraj R. Barjatya's film Hum Aapke Hain Koun...! , and as 'Devki Bhojai' in TV serial Humrahi .- Biography :...
as Anwari - Shrivallabh VyasShrivallabh VyasShrivallabh Vyas is an Indian actor who has worked in many films including Sardar, Lagaan and Shool. He is an alumnus of the National School of Drama.-Early career:...
as Sabir - Sandeep KulkarniSandeep KulkarniSandeep Kulkarni is an actor from India who is also a painter. An actor from theatre, television, and films, his work is popular among Hindi and Marathi audience....
as Inspector Apte