Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway is a much awaited movie of Indian Film Star “Rani Mukherjee” which was released on 17th March’2023. This Indian Hindi-language legal drama film is written and directed by Ashima Chibber. It stars Rani Mukerji, Anirban Bhattacharya, Neena Gupta and Jim Sarbh in lead roles.
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway
The film is inspired by the real life story of an Indian couple whose children were taken away by Norwegian authorities in 2011. Based on a real-life incident, the film tells the story of Indian immigrant Debika Chatterjee (Rani Mukerji) who must fight for the custody of her own children after they are handed over to foster care by the Norwegian childcare services. She is deemed unfit for their upbringing.
Sagarika Chakraborty, based on whom the movie has been made, has authored an autobiography “The Journey of a Mother” narrating her legal battle. The book was published in 2022.
The film was announced by Rani Mukerji in March 2021. Principal photography began in August 2021. The first schedule took place in Estonia and was completed by 21 September 2021. The film was wrapped up on 18 October 2021.
STORY
The film is inspired by the true story of Sagarika Chakraborty, an Indian woman whose children were taken away from her by the Norwegian government. Sagarika had made headlines in 2012 as she fought against the Norwegian authorities to get back custody of her children. The entire issue had even caused a diplomatic row between India and Norway.
In real life, Sagarika Chakraborty moved to Norway with her geophysicist husband Anurup Bhattacharya in 2007. In 2008, the couple welcomed their first child Abhigyaan, who later showed signs of autism. In 2010, Sagarika gave birth to Aishwarya.
In the movie, Rani Mukherji plays the titular role of “Mrs Chatterjee” and Anirban Bhattacharya plays her husband.
In 2011, the Norwegian Child Welfare Services, known as the Barnevernet (another name for child protection) took Abhigyaan and Aishwarya away to be kept in a foster home.
The Norwegian government said it had the couple under observation and deemed them unfit for raising kids.
In 2012, the Norwegian government handed over the custody of the kids to their uncle and grandfather who lived in Kulti near Asansol, West Bengal, India instead of giving it to the real parents. After this, Sagarika approached the Burdwan Child Welfare Committee for custody of her children who gave the verdict in her favour but it was not enforced by the police. It was in January 2013, Justice Dipankar Dutta said that Sagarika should get the custody of her kids and gave the uncle and grandfather to have visitation privileges.
Moving to the screen adaptation, Debika (Rani Mukerji as Sagarika) is a young Bengali housewife grappling with motherhood and her life in Norway. Even as her husband adapts to the Norwegian language and norms, she prefers to retain her Indian roots and wear them on her sleeve. Expect gorgeous Kolkata cotton saris on the lead actress in freezing Norway, over trench coats and she slipping into Bengali mid-conversation frequently.
Her aversion to clone the Norwegian way of life and refusal to let go of her Indianness, draws the attention of some corrupt officers in the Norwegian childcare services. Common Indian practises like eating with hands, hand feeding your child, sleeping in the same bed as your child… are looked upon as bad parenting traits and reason enough to separate the kids from their parents.
Debika can barely think straight from the moment her kids are snatched away from her. Unaffected by the consequences, she recklessly and relentlessly vows to use any means necessary to rescue her children. Her imprudent behaviour becomes her worst enemy as it helps legitimise the abduction of her children under the guise of social work. How far would a mother go to reclaim her children?
“I don’t know whether I’m a good mother or a bad mother but I’m a mother”, confesses Debika as she pleads with several courts in India and Norway for justice. She is made to run from pillar to post for three years to get the custody of her children after being implicated for mental instability. Ashima Chibber, who has previously directed ‘Mere Dad Ki Maruti’ helms Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway.
She skims through some valid arguments on patriarchy, domestic violence being normalised in most Indian families and what constitutes a ‘good mother’. She doesn’t whitewash her flawed lead character either, but we wish she had dug deeper. The intent is visible, but execution barely scratches the surface.
Most characters are one-dimensional caricatures that don’t go beyond the Wikipedia phase of research. With a solid actor like Rani Mukerji at hand, the director could have moulded her into a far more nuanced character than the one we get. The actress who has the potential to be effortless on camera, goes theatrical and excessive. Her high-decibel fight for justice clutters the first half with more noise, less grief.
However, she gets the tone of her character right in the second half when the silence leaves you more room to think and feel. Rani becomes Sagarika Chakraborty gradually and is effective once she lets her eyes speak volumes. Co-written by Ashima, Rahul Handa and Sameer Satija, the film is loaded with drama, crowd-pleasing dialogue, and stereotypes. The bad guys keep making evil faces to show that they are the bad guys (read Norwegian childcare women). Rani keeps chanting, “Mere Shubh aur Suchi mujhe wapas chahiye” endlessly.
Jim Sarbh gives the film its finest moments and uplifts it. It is his restrained portrayal of a lawyer of Indian origin in Norway, that captures the heart of this film. Sarbh makes you think when his character (Daniel) questions the notion that adoptive parents cannot be as loving and caring as biological parents. You wish there was more of him and his arguments in a rather convenient climax.
Amit Trivedi’s music embodies the spirit of a fearless mother. ‘Shubho Shubho’ tugs at your heartstrings. The film could have achieved a similar effect if it wasn’t for its populist approach and melodramatic execution.
Shooting Locations
The major shooting took place in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, Norway and West Bengal, India.
Allegations
The Norwegian government had alleged that “Mrs Chatterjee” fed her kids using her hands which is force feeding and is considered to be improper parenting.The Barnevernet who had the family under observation said that the couple beat the kids and this comes under corporal punishment.
The shocker was while these activities seem normal for Indians, the Norwegian government has strict laws for child protection. The cultural difference between the two countries did not deter the Norwegian government to take a step back while implementing it on an Indian couple. The battle of custody took a toll on the married life of “Mrs Chatterjee”.
Statement by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi and Consulate General in Mumbai
Immediately after the release of the film, Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi and Consulate General in Mumbai published the below statement.
The film Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway is a work of fiction, based on an actual case.
The film is a work of fiction, even though it is based on an actual case. The case being referred to was resolved a decade ago in cooperation with Indian authorities and with the agreement of all parties involved. To protect the children and the right to privacy the government can not comment on specific cases due to strict confidentiality regulations. However, some general facts must be set right;
- Children will never be taken away from their families based on cultural differences described. Eating with their hands or having children sleeping in bed with their parents are not considered practices harmful to children and are not uncommon in Norway, irrespective of cultural background.
- Child welfare is not driven by profit. The alleged claim that ‘the more children put into the foster system, the more money they make’ is completely false. Alternative care is a matter of responsibility, and not a money making entity.
- The reason for placing children in alternative care is if they are subject to neglect, violence or other forms of abuse.
We sympathize with the affected families, particularly the children. For those involved, there is no denying that the such experiences are difficult. Child welfare cases are not easy. Certainly not for the children, not for the parents and not for the Child Welfare Service tasked with finding the right solution.
Norway is a democratic, multicultural society. In Norway, we value and respect different family systems and cultural practices, also when these are different to what we are accustomed to – apart from corporal punishment in the upbringing. There is zero tolerance for violence in any shape or form.
The Norwegian Child Welfare Act applies to all children in Norway, regardless of their ethnic background or nationality. The best interest of the child is a guiding principle in all states that have ratified the UN Convention on the rights of the child and it is the paramount principle in all child welfare cases in Norway. The principle is incorporated in our legislation and is also embedded in our Constitution.
INCOME On Day 1 – 17.03.2023
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway is made with a total budget of Rs.40 Crore ( 51.856.400 Norwegian Krone ) / USD 48,46,104.00, the film collected Rs 1.5 Crore ( 19,44,948.10 Norwegian Krone ) / 1,81,728.90 United States Dollar.
Rani Mukerji’s film Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway released on March 17. After seven days, it managed to cross the Rs 10-crore mark.
The trailer of the movie got released in February’2023. Click here to see the trailer.
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