I love Gen Z actors, but at the same time I often reminisce about the era that was ruled by Rani, Priety, Kajol, and Aishwarya. So, when I saw the trailer of Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway starring my all-time fave, Rani Mukerji, it felt like my wish has come true!
Rani Makes A Comeback!
It has been a while since we saw Rani on screen, and I can’t wait to watch her in this new movie! Rani plays a Bengali mother, Debika Chatterjee, who migrates from Kolkata to Norway with her husband and two kids. Things take a U-turn when her kids are taken away from her. Debika wages a war against the entire country to win back her children.
Check out the trailer here:
Based On A True Story
While the trailer already made me cry, I was devastated to learn that the movie is centered on true events. It is based on the lives of an Indian couple, named Sagarika and Anurup Bhattacharya. This Bengali couple had also migrated to Norway with their two children.
Their lives turned upside down in 2011 when Sagarika allegedly slapped her son in public due to misbehaviour. An anonymous tip was sent to the Norwegian Child Welfare Services, who first issued a warning to the family and then eventually showed up at their doorstep to take the children away.
Highlighting Norway’s Child Protection Rules
When it comes to child protection, Norway has strict rules. Slapping your children may seem like a common practice in India, but it is illegal in Norway. Following the warning, the CWS paid frequent visits to the Bhattacharya home to observe Sagarika’s behaviour towards her children while Anurup was at work.
During those visits, the officials scorned at Sagarika for making her kids sleep on the same bed as hers and feeding them with her own hands, which was termed “force-feeding.” All of this was labelled as “unsuitable for the children” in Norway. CWS then took the kids from the couple and placed them in a foster care system.
A Mother’s Fight Against An Entire Country!
Sagarika and her husband were even prohibited from meeting their children. This led to a war between a mother and an entire nation. After weeks of fighting in court to regain custody of her children, Sagarika emerged victorious when she finally got the custody of her children.
However, a lot was lost during her battle. The ordeal strained Sagarika and Anurup’s marriage, which ended in divorce. Sagarika had to fight yet another custody battle for her children in 2013, this time against her husband. In January 2013, the Calcutta High Court granted Sagarika the custody of her children.
Rani Mukerji has always been a delight to watch on the big screen, and I am so excited to see her fill in Sagarika’s shoes. BRB, setting a countdown for March 17!
Feature Image: Instagram
