Watch Amba
- NR
- 1990
- 2 hr 33 min
-
4.2 (78)
Amba is a 1990 Indian drama film directed by Mohan Kumar, starring Shabana Azmi, Anil Kapoor, and Meenakshi Sheshadri in lead roles. The film revolves around the story of Amba (played by Shabana Azmi), a college lecturer who is forced to resign from her job due to a false allegation by a student against her. Amba is later shattered when she is unable to get justice from the court, and her family and society start to turn against her.
The movie opens with Amba as a confident and respected teacher who is loved by her students. However, one of her male students, Arun (played by Anil Kapoor), falls in love with her and proposes to her. Amba rejects his proposal, but this leads to Arun falsely accusing her of molesting him. Amba is arrested, and her life turns into a nightmare.
The rest of the film follows Amba's struggles to prove her innocence and to win back the trust of her family and society. She is unable to get justice from the court because of lack of evidence, and the false allegations against her keep spreading. Her husband, played by Rohini Hattangadi, is convinced of her innocence but is helpless to do anything about it. Amba's daughter, played by Meenakshi Seshadri, is also trying to support her mother but finds it increasingly difficult to do so. The film shows how the relationship between the mother and daughter gets affected due to the situation.
Amba's situation gets worse when she loses her baby due to the stress she is going through. She sinks into depression, and her life spirals out of control. She loses her job, her family disowns her, and society shuns her. Her husband dies due to a heart attack, and she is left alone to fight her battle. The film ends on a bittersweet note, showing how Amba finally finds a way to move on with her life despite all the hardships she had to face.
One of the notable things about Amba is the way the film deals with the issue of gender and power dynamics. The film portrays how a woman's reputation and life can be destroyed by a false allegation, and how society tends to side with the man in such situations. The movie also shows how women are often judged and stereotyped based on their relationships with men, and how these relationships can be used against them.
Shabana Azmi delivers a phenomenal performance as Amba, portraying the character's vulnerability, strength and despair with equal conviction. She received critical acclaim for her role in the film, and it is considered one of her best performances. Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi Seshadri, and Rohini Hattangadi also deliver solid performances, adding depth to the film.
Overall, Amba is a powerful film that deals with an important issue in a sensitive and nuanced manner. It is a reminder of how society needs to be more sensitive towards the plight of women who are victims of false allegations and how justice should always be served, regardless of gender.