It would be heartrending for any mother to have her children forcibly taken away from her through no fault of her own. The child services of Norway, or to be precise, some members of it are shown to be extra-vigilant when it comes to assessing the behaviour of Indian parents. It’s also implied that the agency, in fact, has been bogged down by corruption and uses its offices to run a foster child racket. It’s suggested that immigrant families with young children are targeted, as they’re unaware of the law of the land. Circumstantial evidence is built against them and they’re made to lose the right to bring up their own children. These children are then given to rich childless couples. The film hints that everyone is complicit in this conspiracy. But the film doesn’t turn into a crusade against the corrupt system. Rather, it focuses on one woman’s fight for justice
On the surface, the Chatterjees live the perfect NRI life. Debika Chatterjee is a caring homemaker and mother while her husband Anirudh Chatterjee (Anirban Bhattacharya), earns well and is hopeful about getting a permanent resident visa. But as the film progresses, we notice the cracks. It’s implied that he regularly indulges in domestic abuse. In fact, he had even broken her hand in the past. Her in-laws are uncaring and side only with their son. When the children get taken away, he blames her for everything. She finds herself alienated in her fight. She’s devastated when the custody is granted to her greedy brother-in-law. She’s accused by her own husband of being mentally unstable and finds all her roads blocked.
Jim Sarbh plays Daniel Singh Ciupek, an Indian-origin lawyer who is assigned to fight her case. He’s sympathetic to her cause but isn’t able to get justice for her. Later, he argues in the Kolkata High Court that the best interest of the children lies in them being sent back to Norway, as their adoptive parents will take better care of them. The film makes a case for nature versus nurture. On being asked whether adoptive parents can be as good as blood parents, he says he himself has been brought up by adoptive parents, with utmost care and affection. But he does maintain that in this particular case, Debika Chatterjee’s undying love for her children holds greater value.
The film takes us through one dramatic turn to another in the first half. It’s in the second half, when the action shifts to Kolkata, that it finds its true rhythm. The entry of Debika’s Indian lawyer (Balaji Gauri), shakes things up. She’s a sharp individual who knows the intricacies of law, is well-researched on the case and her compelling arguments in front of a sympathetic judge (Barun Chanda) make for great courtroom drama.
The film rests squarely on Rani Mukerji’s shoulders. She’s shown to be the quintessential middle class mother, her world revolving around her two children. She pampers them to no end, makes all kinds of foodstuffs for them and doesn’t want anything more in her life than a chance to care for them. She gets volatile when they’re taken away from her. Her hyper nature fades to her being uncommunicative as the film progresses. She eases into her role and in the latter parts, where she emotes just with her eyes and body language, we truly feel she’s Sagarika Bhattacharya in flesh. This sensitive portrayal is one of her most prominent performances of all time. Noted Bengali actor, Anirban Bhattacharya, makes a confident Hindi debut. He’s so good being bad, you love to hate him. It’s another bravura performance from the actor and hopefully should lead to better and bigger roles in Hindi cinema. Jim Sarbh is as natural as they come and showcases his versatility once more as a kind-hearted lawyer. Balaji Gauri’s performances as a firebrand lawyer adds another layer to the film.
Watch Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway for its sensitive dramatisation of a real-life case. And for the superlative acting displayed by Rani Mukerji, and the entire ensemble cast.
