-by Naina Mishra
May 17, 2017: Shivgami Devi – the fierce, reckless and the most dominant character in Baahubali series. She epitomised the invincible character of a woman who leads the kingdom in the absence of a ruler. The character reminded me of my internal strength as a woman and invoked the spirit of a dictator. As a matter of fact, any woman can be a dictator in her life. The world which was deemed to be ruled by men is only a predisposition. Shivgami is a blend of Maa Yashoda where she adopts the child and loves him no lesser than a real mother and Maa Kaikai where she declares her real son as the ruler of Maheshmati kingdom owing to the conspiracy planted by Bhallaldev(real son) and her husband against Bahubali (adopted son).
I am going to share the most compelling scenes from the films and decode the hidden messages in each scene described underneath
AUTHORITARIAN
Still from Baahubali Part 1 Movie
Still from Baahubali Part 1 Movie
The furious woman who stepped the monarchy with a child in her embraces to protect the kingdom from the collapse. A sword in one hand and breastfeeding infant on the other, it confirmed that a woman can be both – a mother and a warrior. Let's not forget the valiant Rani Laxmi bai who rebelled while knotting her child to her waist.
EGALITARIANIST
Still from Baahubali Part 1 Movie
The mother who did not discriminate between her real and adopted son and who believed in egalitarianism which commands justice for all.
RESOLUTE
Still from Baahubali Part 1 Movie
The resounding words "Mera vachan hi hai shasan" (My word is governance) showed her strength of character. She stood by her words no matter what, even if it required her to go against her own will.
THE GUILTY SINNER
Still from Baahubali Part 1 Movie
The wretchedness of guilt consumed her when she became conscious of her sinful decisiveness to kill her own son. It is innate to commit mistakes and succumb to misery; such has been the plight of Shivgami who could only be remorseful at the end of fatality.
GODLY AGONY
Still from Baahubali Part 1 Movie
The divination by Shivgami which asserted the newly born child of Amrendra baahubali and Devsena as the new the new ruler of Mahishmati Kingdom.
SACRIFICIAL
Still from Baahubali Part 1 Movie
In the quest of undoing the sinful crime, Shivgami sacrifices herself to shield her grandchild and drowns within the sea.
There is so much to collect and reframe at once when you look at the fearless Shivgami. Her heroic disposition is also an exemplary of the expanding roles of women in Indian Cinema. The lesson derived are timeless – "Women are no longer seen as a sacrificial goat in any sphere of life".
– by Naina Mishra of Newsgram, Twitter @Nainamishr94