Perfect Woman Magazine & Events

REVIEW | MRS CHATTERJI V/S NORWAY |PERFECT WOMAN MAGAZINE

Producer- Nikhil Advani and Monisha Advani

Director-Ashima Chibber

Star Cast –Rani Mukerjee, Jim Sarbh, Anirban Bhattacharya, Neena Gupta, Balaji Gauri and Sowmya Mukherjee

Genre- Social

Platform of Release- Theatres

Rating- ***1/2

Gut Wrenching & Emotional!

Jyothi Venkatesh

Based on a real-life incident, the film tells the story of an NRI housewife Debika Chatterjee (Rani Mukerji) who fights for the custody of her own children after they are handed over to foster care by the Norwegian childcare services, under the false pretext that she is unfit for their upbringing. Just for the unversed; 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.

Debika’s aversion to cloning the Norwegian way of life and refusal to let go of her typical Indianness, draws the attention of some corrupt officers in the Norwegian childcare services. Common Indian practices like eating with one’s own hands, hand feeding your child, sleeping in the same bed as your child etc are looked upon as bad parenting traits and reason good enough to separate the kids from their parents. Poor but undaunted Debika is made to run from pillar to post for three years to get the custody of her children after being implicated for mental instability.

Incisive dialogues continue to haunt you long after you leave the theatres, like when Debika confesses “I don’t know whether I’m a good mother or a bad mother but I’m a mother”, as she pleads with several courts in India and Norway for justice. Though Rani Mukerjee gets into the skin of Sagarika Chakraborty gradually and effectively lets her eyes speak volumes, she goes theatrical and hysterical and what’s more, her high-decibel fight for justice clutters the first half with more of noise, and less grief. However all said and done, one should concede that she steals the show with her high octave performance.

Jim Sarbh delivers a nuanced performance as the lawyer appointed by the state government in Norway and endears himself to the viewers with his restrained act. Anirban Bhattacharya as Debika’s irritating and uncouth husband is just about passable while Balaji Gauri  is immensely likeable as the Indian lady lawyer who takes up Debika’s case at Kolkata and Sowmya Mukerjee is loud as the typical mother in law of Debika. Neena Gupta is extremely good as the Minister who advocates the case of Debika

BY JYOTI VENKATESH & PERFECT WOMAN MAGAZINE