Oh boy. Following last episode’s low-key character study, we decide to go full-on rural epic Bollywood mode and our longest episode to date. 

Mother India is enormous in every sense. The film centres on an iconic performance by Nargis as Radha, who selflessly overcomes endless obstacles, such as farming accidents, snakes, floods, and Sukhilala, an especially villainous moneylender. In fact, it was too a bit TOO enormous for Alex, who, poor soul, had to split the film over two nights.

Trying to understand this film's impact on Indian cinema and culture is a bit like trying to understand the impact of Elvis Presley on rock 'n' roll. Mother India was a huge box-office success which defiantly tackled the difficult themes of a newly independent country- family, development and corruption- and pointed a new way forward. Nonetheless, we give it a shot, and Smytta gets stuck into our most in-depth cultural discussions so far, featuring rural life, politics, a submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, and more. 

So join us on a technicolour tour through moustache-twirling moneylenders, pantomime comedy and uplifting songs which, much to Alex’s chagrin, have not been subtitled in English. Bah! No matter: this is a wonderfully indulgent film meriting a wonderfully indulgent episode. Enjoy! 

Next episode: Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam.