# La India María

"La India María" (born María Nicolasa Cruz) is a fictional character portrayed and created by actress María Elena Velasco. The character frequently endures situations of racial discrimination, classism, and corruption, although in all of these turmoils, María undoubtedly resolves them with hilarious acts of good-nature and morality. She has represented the poor indigenous, the migrant worker, the forsaken woman, and even free-spirited nuns for over 30 years. She has been the lead character in 16 films and in a spin-off television series entitled, Ay María Qué Puntería. Most recently, the character has appeared in cameo appearances in the television programs Mujer, casos de la vida real and La Familia Peluche.

## Fictional character background

In her first film, she mentions that her hometown is "San José de los Burros". Nevertheless, different hometowns are suggested in other films. For example, her hometown is changed to "Chipitongo el Alto", for which she serves a term as municipal president in La presidenta municipal (1975). In El que no corre... vuela! (1981), she mentions her hometown as "San Pablo Cuatro Venados". Other given hometowns are Nopalillo (Little Prickly Pear Cactus), San Bartolo Tezmelucan, among others.

## Characteristics

Despite being an illiterate woman and very prone to mistakes, La India Maria has shown to be of quick wit and even of impressive athletic ability, being able to fend off enemies with karate like abilities. Many people try to take advantage of her good nature and some unfortunately get away with it. However in the end she manages to defeat even powerful villains with her good intentions and ability to turn their influence against them.

## Commute to Mexico City

Since La India María's rural hometown does not have many job opportunities, her cousin Eufemia invites her to work for a sophisticated aristocratic woman who is the countess of Valley of Mexico, in Mexico City. Her name is Doña Julia Escandón de León, Condesa del Valle. But María is robbed right when she gets off her train. With nowhere to go, María sells oranges with other women at a public park (which is illegal). A group of police officers arrest them, but María Nicolasa finds refuge in Doña Julia's limousine.

## Migration to the United States

María was hired several times to work in the United States. First in OK, Mister Pancho, where she crosses the border to Houston, Texas at the request of an American refugee with whom she quickly falls in love and names "Mr. Pancho". Second in Ni de aquí ni de allá, she travels to Los Angeles, California and is contracted to work as a housemaid for two American tourists, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. However, she is distracted and goes into a bathroom at the airport in L. A., and witnesses a murder. The murderer pursues her all over the city, as she finds work in a Mexican restaurant, and then as a maid for a sick American entrepreneur, who ends up being a drug trafficker that is arrested at the end.

## Cameo appearances

* In Mujer, casos de la vida real, an episode entitled Amor incondicional, she portrays a discriminated maid and nanny.
* In La Familia Peluche, she appears in an episode as the housemaid of "Exelsa".
She also had cameos in the dramedy series Papá Soltero and the comedy show La hora pico.

### List of Films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1972 | Tonta, tonta, pero no tanto | María Nicolasa Cruz | First India María film |
| 1973 | ¡Pobre, pero honrada! | María Nicolasa Cruz | |
| 1974 | La madrecita | Sor María Nicolasa Cruz | |
| 1975 | La presidenta municipal | María Nicolasa Cruz | |
| 1976 | El miedo no anda en burro | María Nicolasa Cruz | |
| 1977 | Sor Tequila | María Nicolasa "Sor Tequila" | |
| 1978 | Duro pero seguro | María Nicolasa Cruz | |
| 1978 | La comadrita | María Nicolasa Cruz | |
| 1981 | Okey, Mister Pancho | María Nicolasa Cruz | |
| 1982 | ¡El que no corre... vuela! | María Nicolasa Cruz | Silver Goddess Award for Best Comedy Performance |
| 1983 | El coyote emplumado | María | Directorial debut |
| 1984 | Ni Chana, Ni Juana | María | |
| 1988 | Ni de aquí, ni de allá | María | |
| 1993 | Se equivocó la cigüeña | María Nicolasa Cruz | |
| 1999 | Las delicias del poder | María / Lorena Barriga | |
| 2014 | La hija de Moctezuma | María Nicolasa Cruz | Nominated – Silver Goddess Award for Best Original Song |