Mimi is a 25 year old small town girl from Rajasthan, who aspires to be an actress in the Mumbai film industry. In order to fulfil her dreams, she signs up to be a surrogate for an American couple in exchange for 20 lakh rupees. However, when the couple find out from the doctor about the potential health hazard for the baby, they abandon the surrogacy and return home to America, leaving Mimi helpless. Nonetheless, Mimi decides to go ahead with the baby irrespective of the condition. 

Mimi gives birth to a healthy boy who she names Raj. She becomes deeply attached to him the moment she holds him in her arms. This moment of love and attachment is beautifully depicted by a tear drop running down Mimi’s cheek. After giving birth to Raj, she gives up her dream of becoming an actress. She fights with herself and against the society to raise up her child. 

Four years later, Raj’s biological parents re-visit India to take back their son to America. While Mimi’s family prepares to fight for Raj’s custody in the court, Mimi decides to give back her son to his biological parents. Not wanting Raj to go through the struggles of court cases, she sacrifices her own happiness for his sake. The climax beautifully portrays the sacrificial and selfless love of a mother to her child. 

The reason the movie was very well received by the audience is because people recognise the value of selfless and sacrificial love. The bonds of love between a mother and child are so strong that one can’t help think that it has its origins from something beyond this world. The evidence of that love is so plain to see in the sacrifices a mother makes.  Dr. Kalyan Kumar Chakraborty (retired IAS, arts and history educationist) said, “Love, in any society, is eternally realised through self-sacrificial offerings, much more extensively than its presentation in any other form”. 

Love is the bond that holds and unifies us. It is what makes life meaningful. Every human being is born with an innate ability to love. However, our vested interests discount the true meaning of the word ‘love’. Though we claim to love the other person, our deeds declare otherwise. Oftentimes, we focus on fulfilling our own needs and desires while totally excluding the well-being of others, including those whom we claim to love. 

In our ambition to climb up the ladder of success or even to pursue happiness, we disregard the emotions and needs of those around us. But love is doing what is best for the one being loved. It demands sacrifice. As Elizabeth Elliot wrote, “It is impossible to love deeply without sacrifice.” The divine love of God on the cross echoes this in its highest form. 

The film, Mimi, reminds us of the selfless and sacrificial love that we ought to have for another. To love so deeply that we are able to do what it takes for the wellbeing of the other. 


Author:

Phida Warjri  

Phidakerlin Warjri is currently pursuing her M.Div ( Masters of Divinity) at the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS), Bangalore. She has completed her B.Sc. in Biochemistry from St. Anthony’s College, Shillong and, M.Sc. in Biochemistry from NEHU, Shillong. She also has a B.Ed. degree from PGT(CTE) College, Shillong. She loves to have deep and meaningful conversations with people and has a passion for teaching. She lives in Shillong.

 

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