When cinema was born, it inherited literature's ambivalence but simplified it for the screen. In the early decades of Hollywood, the mother was largely a saint — noble, long-suffering, and usually dead or dying.

In traditional Indian families, the mother plays a multifaceted role. She is not only a caregiver but also a teacher, a mentor, and a role model. She is responsible for teaching her children important life skills, such as cooking, cleaning, and managing household chores.

In literature, "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt uses the sudden loss of a mother as the starting point for a son’s entire life. The memory of the mother becomes a ghost that the son chases, showing that the relationship remains active even in death. The Modern Shift: Breaking the Tropes

World cinema expanded the mother-son story beyond the boundaries of Western psychology.