In the Name of Mother

What does it truly mean to protect something sacred, and at what cost? Set on the outskirts of Delhi, 'In the Name of Mother' is a short documentary that follows Shiva, a devoted cow caretaker and protection activist from Faridabad, Haryana. For Shiva, caring for abandoned and injured cattle is not just work. It’s a sacred duty rooted in reverence for the cow, a symbol of motherhood in Hinduism. Beneath Shiva’s devotion lies a simmering tension: the personal cost of his vigilantism, the moral uncertainty of operating in a legal grey area, and the societal backlash that labels him both a hero and an extremist. Through Shiva’s journey, the documentary offers an intimate portrait of devotion, sacrifice, and staunch beliefs. It explores the human and emotional cost of his mission, revealing a story of faith, identity, and the blurred boundaries between religious fervour and political extremism in today’s polarised India.