Mother India



The IMDb tag of this movie is India's Gone With the Wind.

Radha and Shamu are newly wed farmers who unknowingly sign unto a lifetime of poverty and desperation when they get a loan from Loanshark Sukilal to pay their wedding expenses. Sukilal soon charges exorbidant interest rates that Shamu and Radha are unable to pay. Shamu decides to cultivate more land and in an farming accident, loses his arm. He then disappears, out of shame.

Radha decides that come what may, she is determined to make something out of life and not get crushed by Sukilal. She loses a harvest and a child in a storm and is subject to extreme hardship. Her older son Ramu soon gets embroiled in his own cycle of poverty. Her second and favorite son Birju resents Sukilal and takes out his rage by harassing Sukilal's daughter. This taunting turns serious when he tries to kill Sukilal, becomes a dacoit and vowes to kidnap Sukilal's daughter. Radha must now decide if she wants to stand against her favorite son.

Tropes include

 * All Devouring Black Hole Loan Sharks : Radha owes moneylender Sukilal debt with interest for her marriage that turns to a life crushing soul force which nearly destroys her life. Her son Birju decides to take revenge on Sukilal for his ways which results in the ensuing tragedy
 * Book Ends : The movie begins and ends in the same way; with Radha looking forward to building the water canal
 * Flashback Echo - employed in the beginning of the film
 * Keet: Young Birju. So much.
 * Mama Bear: Radha, which proves to be ironic
 * Offing the Offspring: