Directed by Mehboob Khan • 1957 • India
Starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar

In many ways the mother of the Bollywood epic, this landmark of Indian cinema is a breathtaking blend of melodrama, musical, Soviet-style socialist realism, and nationalist mythmaking centered around Radha (superstar Nargis in one of her most iconic roles), a young mother abandoned by her husband who must weather all manner of hardships—debt, poverty, natural disasters, and the untoward advances of men—as she fights to raise her two sons while holding on to her dignity and uncompromising moral code. The first Indian film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, this box-office sensation and enduring cultural touchstone is the story not only of one woman’s resilience but also of a newly independent India’s quest for self-determination.