A dying mother plays musical chairs with her own children — tearjerker of the decade.
Satyam (Nassar) is a driver and his wife Sarada (Madhavi) is a music teacher. They were both orphans brought up in the Seva Ashram (run by Charuhasan). Sarada and Satyam have four kids. Satyam, though good at heart, is addicted to liquor. Apparao (Tanikella Bharani), a toddy milk vendor, has an eye on Sarada. When Satyam discovers Apparao making advances on Sarada, he assaults him in front of everyone. Avenging the assault, Apparao kills Satyam. Sarada, who is diagnosed with cancer, wants her children to be brought up in a family atmosphere rather than in the Ashram and the children are adopted by different families.
Acting
Madhavi's cancer-stricken mother is absolutely shattering.
Writing
Title means 'Mother is God' — they weren't subtle, they were RIGHT.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title comes from the Sanskrit 'Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava' — honoring parents as divine, a concept drilled into Indian schoolchildren.
This was remade in Kannada as 'Thayi Saheba' and both versions cemented Madhavi's reputation as the go-to actress for suffering mothers.
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