It is said, “Mother” is a word, but “Amma” is an emotion. In Tamil cinema, mom characters are given the most sentimental and emotional character traits.
There’s even a term for it: “amma sentiment” or “Thaai sentiment,” which is frequently heard in Tamil cinema. It refers to how a mother uses her emotions to persuade her child to follow her norms.
So, while this has been going on, there is another track that has been made in such a way that not only shows the “amma sentiment,” but also an intricate feature with conceptualisation.
In other words, the mother characters I’m about to mention are given credence equally as the film’s main characters. Sometimes, their character serves as a plot twister in the film.
Here are six moM characters who have remained in our hearts to this day;
Mahalakshmi
M.Kumaran s/o Mahalakshmi
She is a visionary and ambitious mother. She is not the typical mother who would never allow her son to participate in a combat sport; instead, she supported her son’s decision to become a great kick boxer while guiding him through a beholden growth process. He understands when to use his strength as a kick boxer. Her guidance will be reflected on M.Kumaran’s personality even after she dies.
Bhuvana, Raghuvaran’s mother
Velaiilla Pattadhari
Raghuvaran is more attached to his mother than to his father because of how compassionate and protective she is of him. She is very loving, but she still acts like a mother to a five-year-old child, and Raghuvaran will get walloped for his misbehaviour every now and then. However, she is the only member of the family who believes in Raghuvaran’s abilities more than Raghuvaran himself.
Indira
Kannathil Muthamittal
Many young mothers will be able to relate with her character because it depicts a young mother dealing with complex emotions while staying sane for the sake of her daughter. Even though Indira was fine with Amutha meeting her biological mother, she was concerned that Amutha would no longer consider herself a mother.
Malini Krishnan
Vaaranam Aayiram
Malini not only played a loving wife, but also a very supportive mother to Surya. Especially since her son was using drugs following the death of his girlfriend. She did not make his life more difficult in order for him to leave drugs. She trusted Surya and agreed to give him a break on the condition that he returned to her. And, just as she trusted him, he returns home as a completely different person.
Sivagami Devi
Bahubali 1 and 2
Rajamatha is an all-rounder, grooming both of her sons to be kings while playing her political games well, keeping her cards close to her chest and duping rebels. But her love towards her un-biological son was unwavering, and she is also a mother who understands both her sons’ strengths and weaknesses.
M.Kumaran s/o Mahalakshmi was the first mother-related movie that I watched, and it was a movie that was always aired on television during Mother’s Day.
But personally, not just the character, but I am a very big fan of Kannathil Muthamittal because it showed an emotion of a young mother, wanting to give the liberty to her daughter while also struggling to comprehend how will her young daughter accept the liberty given.
But what about you? Are there any other mother characters besides the ones on the list who have had a significant impact? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
There is no particular order in which these characters are listed.
