Motherhood in cinema has rarely been limited to love, care and sacrifice. Over the years, films have given us mothers who fought criminals, challenged entire systems, survived unimaginable dangers and pushed themselves beyond every limit when their children were at risk. Ahead of Gandhari, here are some films that have shown just how powerful a mother’s instinct to protect can be.

Kahaani 2 (2016)

In Kahaani 2, Vidya Balan’s character, Vidya Sinha’s life takes a dramatic turn when her daughter is kidnapped. As she desperately tries to find and save her, her past begins to come to light, revealing a much darker and more complicated history. The film shows a mother willing to confront everything she has buried if it means bringing her child back.

Bird Box (2018)

In Bird Box, motherhood becomes a battle for survival. Malorie played by Sandra Bullock has to navigate a terrifying world where simply looking outside can cost you your life. With two children depending on her, she learns to survive under impossible circumstances, keeping them safe even when fear is constantly closing in. Her determination to get them to safety becomes the emotional heart of the story.

Mom (2017)

In Mom, Sridevi plays Devki, a mother who refuses to accept that her daughter will never get justice who was brutally assaulted at a party. When the system fails her, she takes matters into her own hands. She goes beyond the conventional idea of motherhood, becoming investigator, protector and avenger. Her actions come from a simple place: she cannot stand by while her child suffers

A Quiet Place Part 2 (2020)

A Quiet Place Part II takes Emily Blunt’s character, Evelyn Abbott’s maternal instincts to the forefront as she fights to keep her children safe in a world still overrun by deadly creatures. Separated from her husband and forced to make impossible choices, she relies on courage, instinct and quick thinking to protect her family. The film turns the simple act of a mother keeping her children safe into a constant fight for survival. 

Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway (2023)

In Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, motherhood becomes a fight against an entire system. When her children are taken away, Debika Chatterjee played by Rani Mukerji, refuses to accept the decision and takes on authorities, legal battles and an unfamiliar country to get them back. The film turns a deeply personal struggle into a powerful portrait of a mother who refuses to let anyone else decide what happens to her children.

Gandhari (Upcoming in 2026)

Taapsee Pannu’s Gandhari takes maternal instinct into the action-thriller space. As per reports, she performs action sequences blindfolded, echoing Queen Gandhari’s iconic blindfold in a modern interpretation, as her character goes to extraordinary lengths to protect her child.