HYDERABAD: You sure must have had a moment of ‘face palm’ on Sunday as you watched your friends flood your social network timeline, telling the world how their mother is the best thing to have happened to them, or the reason why they turned out to be the way they are. On this note, we take a look at the time when social media was not the only medium of expression – the time when filmmakers in Tollywood banked on ‘mother sentiment’ to set the box office registers ring.
Amma is life
In this 2003 film Amma Nanna O Tamilammayi, all that Chandu (Ravi Teja) has in his life is his single mother (Jaya Sudha). A young man training to be a kickboxer, amma is Chandu’s life support who manages and directs his career plans and also his love life. Amma is the first person Chandu has to see in the day or it goes for a toss. This is followed by a tragedy when she succumbs to a heart attack. That is when he starts looking for his father who has his own family. His hatred for him turns into love and he adopts the family as his own. Only for his late amma.
Everyday struggle
Reel back to the year 1994 when Yamaraju and his book keeper Chitragupta paid a visit to the earth. Directed by SV Krishna Reddy, the story of Yamaleela revolves around actor Ali who breaks all odds to bring back to his mother her lost palace, status and hence her reason to live. Ali’s love for his mother was an everyday struggle and to see her smile was all that he wanted.
Undying love for amma
This revenge story of biological son Ashok (Shafi) against the adopted one Shivaji (Prabhas) released in the year 2005. Amma, Bhanupriya, loves both unconditionally and equally, much to the dislike of Ashok. The story travels from the shores of Sri Lanka to Vizag but tragically, as the mother and sons are separated. Shivaji’s only aim is to reunite with amma. But the values instilled in him turn him into a hero fighting for his people. He becomes Chhatrapati. Ashok turns his hatred into vengeance by joining the goons and finding ways to foil Shivaji’s struggle to reach amma. Shivaji anyway finds his mother. He also forgives Ashok only for the sake of her.
Saving amma!
Filmmaker Sekhar Kammula brought a set of newcomers to tell the world that Life is Beautiful despite challenges. Every single activity of these three children of widowed amma (Amala) revolves around trying their best not to disappoint her. Amma keeps reminding them of their father’s dreams – to see his children doing their best. They study hard and aim to settle down in good positions only for the sake her. She sends them away to stay with their relatives hoping that they would study without any disturbance. The eldest child comes to know that she is suffering with cancer and does not want to be treated. Only because she can use that money for her children’s education. Though the eldest son keeps it from his sisters they eventually come to know and all of them get together to get the money amma needs for treatment. They succeed.
Juggling roles
Nani, (Mahesh Babu) gets trapped in a 20-year-old’s body. After he is hurt by his mother’s remarks calling him a burden to her, he chances upon a scientist exploring the possibility of implanting a child in an adult’s body. This impulsive need becomes a bother when Nani cannot go back to his mother and begins to realise her importance. To get back to her, he once again approaches the scientist who manages to turn him into an eight-year-old but has to return to his adult self at night. His struggle to stay with his mother during the day despite his adult duties shows how much he cares for his mother.