Released to coincide with the tenth anniversary of Indian independence and almost constantly in distribution ever since, Mother India is widely considered the cornerstone of Indian commercial cinema. Rooted both in Hindu mythology and in the collective experience of a newly independent nation-state, this powerfully emotional epic of rural life and class conflict is essential viewing for fans of Bollywood flair and followers of world cinema. 1950s Bollywood queen Nargis stars as Radha, a strong-willed peasant woman and the quintessential earth mother. After her husband is maimed in a horrific accident, Radha raises her children alone, battling financial ruin and the sexual advances of a moneylender. Bollywood films owe a debt to Mother India. The song sequences are spectacular, the locations breathtaking, and the narrative truly epic. Nominated for an Oscar in 1958 (when its hammer-and-sickle studio logo was quickly removed), Mehboob Khan's masterpiece was beautifully shot on Gevacolor, then transferred onto Technicolor stock; presented in a rare new print from the British Film Institute, its vivid colors still shine through the action, romance, and sorrow.