Nov 12, 2007 04:18 PM
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A milestone in Marathi cinema, Shyamchi Aai is a story of upbringing of Sane Guruji, a distinguished scholar, by his mother. The film was awarded President Gold Medal in 1953. It was produced and directed by Acharya P.K.Atre, another gem of Marathi literature, movie and theatre.
The movie is in flashback about Yashoda(played by Vanmala) mother of Shyam(played by child artist Madhav Vaze). Yashoda has very tactfully and diplomatically handled Shyam’s naughtiness, stubbornness and pranks. She leaves an all time trail for mothers on how to deal with child’s emotions, fostering sense of culture, dignity and humanity.
When Shyam is in confused state of mind, Yashoda tells him best way to clear mind is by allowing tears to roll down. Tears according to her are gift of God for cleaning mind. Here it is interesting to note what Yashoda said decades ago is now gradually being confirmed by psychological studies that crying is not sole prerogative of ladies. Even men do need cry and also feel much relieved by doing so.
With Lage Raho Munnabhai, Gandhigiri is new lingo of the day. This aspect has vividly being brought out by Acharya Atre in Yashoda’s behavior. Gajanan, elder brother of Shyam, is tired and ask him to massage, which Shyam stubbornly refuses to do. Yashoda says she will massage Gajanan. This makes Shyam sit up and do massage. Here through song Draupadicha Bandhu Shobhe Narayan she brings out picture of siblings relationship and makes Shyam realize his folly. There is no use of force, still Yashoda transforms stubborn Shyam’s mind to subtle and gentle.
When the situation demands, it also means being firm. Shyam tries to hide himself from his pals who call him out for a swim. Shyam is reluctant as he is sacred of water. Yashoda gently beats him as she tells pals to take him off to swim. Shyam though learns to swim yet complains to his father Sadashiv of Yashoda’s beatings. Yashoda unfolds a contrasting trait, can parent tolerate a coward child. To make him brave and strong so that he can take on challenges any time, it is necessary to get harsh with him.
One day Shyam and his pals pluck buds from garden in neighborhood. Yashoda asks him how these flower blossoms. Shyam innocently replies by pouring water on them. Yashoda’s scientific temperament as a mother has been brought out here. She says buds cannot blossom into flower by external watering. This way she satisfies the query in mind of Shyam. Often parents snub their wards for questioning and thus kill their spirit of enquiry that is vital for reasoning, growth and overall development of child into a mature rationale citizen.
Yashods continues to teach Shyam about life by addressing his own problems. One day as Shyam is cleaning his feet’s she says just as you take care of cleaning your feet and not to let them get dirty similarly in life never allow any dirt to stick your mind.
Shyam a typical child prankster mimics their school teacher and even compares him to Yama(god of death) in *Chadi Cham Cham Lagey *…. This is first song sung by Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar. Though a prankster, Shyam is obedient and adheres to mother’s teachings. At best of Yashoda, Shyam goes out to help a low caste and upon being objected by priest argues that when god does not discriminate then why should I. With reservation issue and communal disharmony taking its toll in our country, these few lines are worth understanding even in present time.
Sadashiv beats Shyam for coming home between semesters. Yashoda while consoling Shyam and explaining why Sadashiv was upset also tells him meaning of religion. Religion she says is doing. And what these dings are, Yashoda has put them in lullaby Neej Neej Bala ….
Now days children have a subject of EVS(environmental studies). In the song Ghandat Ranee Vahe… Yashoda has described about nature and environment and also make Shyam understand sun, moon, and sea.
Shyam fails to see Yashoda breathe last and sums up feelings about an ideal mother in Aai Aai Mhanoni Koni* ……!
Overall character of Yashods is worth understanding in fostering ethos and cultural values even in contemporary times.
This masterpiece of Marathi cinema involving Vanmalabai and Acharya Atre, a memoir of Sane Guruji has been preserved and brought to people’s reach by RUDRAA HOME VIDEO on VCD & DVD. DVD of Shyamchi Aai also contain documentary on Vanmalabai. The music is composed by yet another legendry Vasant Desai.
