PremiumBeing single mother is hard but not impossible: Malayalam films portraying women raising kids alone
Megha Mukundan
Last Updated:
Raising a child alone is not an easy task especially if you are a woman living in a traditional and conservative society. Yet there are many strong women who take the risk and fight against all societal norms. Portrayals of such characters are adapted on to the cinema screen too, and they have not only made huge box office collections but also inspired and motivated several single mothers, showing that they are not alone and they can find the strength to fight all odds themselves.
Here are some of the Malayalam movies that set an example showing women raising their children alone:
1
Achuvinte Amma
The 2005 Sathyan Anthikkad directorial is about Vanaja (Urvashi), who raises her daughter Aswathy aka Achu (Meera Jasmine), alone. The movie beautifully portrays the love and emotional bonding of the mother and daughter, and a mother’s strong will to make a living for herself and her child. Vanaja is shown to be very courageous, tackling every odds coming her way. Even when her daughter gets married, she gathers her strength back and lives her life independently. The emotional family drama offers a different experience and also normalises a woman’s choice of not wanting a man in her life.
where
to Watch
YouTube
Watch Now
2
Kadha Thudarunnu...
Vidya Lakshmi (Mamta Mohandas) in Kadha Thudarunnu has a happy family life. But her life turns upside down after her husband’s sudden death. She is abandoned by the in-laws and has no place to go with her little daughter. The plot then follows the mother’s struggle to find a place to live and get back on her feet. Vidya who was a bright medical student goes on to also resume her studies. The 2010 movie is helmed by Sathyan Anthikkad, in which Baby Anikha plays the role of the four-year-old daughter.
where
to Watch
3
Ennum Eppozhum
None can forget Adv. Deepa, played by Manju Warrier, in the movie Ennum Eppozhum, a financially secure, courageous mother, who is ready to face any trouble alone. She doesn’t regret her child not having a father after her divorce. Even though a stranger (Mohanlal) comes along her way, she doesn’t ask for his help or protection, but he sticks around. She earns everyone’s love and respect by being so brave in her life.
where
to Watch
4
Udaharanam Sujatha
Sujatha is a rare and interesting single mother played by Manju Warrier. Coming from a very poor background, Sujatha who is a widow and a high school dropout, struggles for a living for her and her daughter Athira (played by Anaswara Rajan). The mother works hard to earn and meet her daughter’s educational needs by taking up more odd jobs. She aspires to see her daughter become a district collector and to motivate her child to study, she even decides to go to school herself and continue pursuing high school.
where
to Watch
5
C/O Saira Banu
Saira Banu is yet another strong single mother character played by Manju Warrier who raises her adopted son Joshua Peter (Shane Nigam). The uneducated woman stands up for her son, and fights for him against all odds. She even goes on to fight legally for her son against a most reputed lawyer. This brave single mother is another gem of a character from Malayalam cinema who proves a woman can be independent and breaks all ties of societal norms.
6
Varane Avashyamund
Neena in this movie, played by Shobana, breaks almost every stereotype by raising her daughter alone after divorce, and deciding to remarry when she falls in love again. The well-settled confident mother brings her daughter up as an independent and accepting woman, who could herself face any challenges in life. Though Neena has the scars from her abusive marriage, she chooses to leave it behind and build a new life and live it to the fullest.
