Maps of Movies

Mother India (1957)

Where Mother India says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

The film is set in one unnamed village, but only three real places are named: a Mumbai studio, a field near Surat, and Uttar Pradesh floodlands.

Scenes and places

The canal opening (1957)

Radha, called the mother of the village, is asked to inaugurate the new canal. She looks back on her life as a newly married bride.

Set in The village and its new irrigation canal — The village where the new canal is finished and Radha is asked to open it.

A fictional, unnamed village; the film's frame story is set in 1957.

The wedding and the loan (1957)

Radha's mother-in-law borrows from the moneylender Sukhilala to pay for the wedding. The village elders side with him, and the couple must hand over three-quarters of their crop as interest.

Set in The wedding village — The village where Radha and Shamu marry on money borrowed from the moneylender.

An unnamed village; the filming villages are only given as Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

The rocky field (1957)

Shamu works to bring more of their rocky land into use. A boulder crushes his arms, and he leaves the family ashamed.

Set in The family's rocky field — The stony land Shamu tries to turn into a working field.

An unnamed field in the village; no filming spot is identified.

The storm and the flood (1957)

A severe storm and flood destroy houses and ruin the harvest. Radha refuses Sukhilala's offer and loses her infant.

Set in The flooded village — The village hit by the storm and the flood that ruins the harvest.

Filming: the cinematographer shot generic flood scenes in flood-hit districts of Uttar Pradesh, and a farmer let 500 acres be flooded; neither place is named.

Leaving, then staying (1957)

The villagers begin to evacuate, but Radha persuades them to stay and rebuild.

Set in The village after the flood — The village the people start to leave and then decide to rebuild.

An unnamed village; the exodus scene used 300 bullock carts and 200 farmers, location not given.

The burning field (1957)

Hay bales burn across the field as Radha searches for her son.

Set in A field where hay bales burn — A field of burning hay where Radha searches for her son.

Filming only: the fire scene was shot in the Umra area of Surat, Gujarat; the story place is an unnamed field.

Filmed at Mehboob Studios, Bandra West, Mumbai — Indoor scenes Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Radha — A poor village woman who raises her sons against a cunning moneylender.
• Shamu — Radha's husband, who works their rocky land.
• Sukhilala — The village moneylender.