“Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway” automatically become a must-see for most Bollywood fans because it marked the return of Rani Mukherjee after what feels like another hiatus. The actor, who made quite a name for herself in the early 2000s, has been on and off screen for a long time, and Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway feels like the right vehicle to channel the inner Rani energy that we know of. While the reception of the movie has been mixed; with critics both praising and loathing Rani’s new film, it’s an important, true story that needed to be told.
What is the movie ‘Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway’ about?
The film follows the journey of Debika, a resident of Stavanger, Norway, who lives with her husband Aniruddha, their son Shubha, and their five-month-old daughter Shuchi. Their lives take an unexpected turn when two employees from the Norwegian Child Welfare Services regularly visit them and eventually take away their children during the last visit.
The Chatterjee family is shattered by the news and is deemed unfit to have custody of their beloved children. Determined to reunite her family, Debika makes the courageous decision to sue the government and fight for the custody of her children.
Is the movie ‘‘Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway’ based on a true story?
Based on the book “The Journey of a Mother” by Sagarika Bhattacharya (the real-life Mrs. Chatterjee), Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway is, in fact, based on a true story. Sagarika claims that everything depicted in the movie is entirely accurate. However, like most cinematic adaptations, the film may have taken certain creative liberties while presenting the story, resulting in some details being skipped or depicted in broad strokes.
It is important to note that the Norwegian government has vehemently denied all the allegations portrayed in “Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway.” They assert that Norway is a country that values diversity and would never discriminate against individuals based on cultural differences. According to the Norwegian government, their decision to intervene in the Chatterjee family’s situation was based on a thorough 10-week evaluation of the child welfare organization, which found the home environment unsuitable for raising children.
Moving to Norway:
Sagarika Chakraborty relocated to Norway in 2007 along with her husband, Anurup Bhattacharya, who worked as a Geophysicist. The couple experienced the joy of becoming parents in 2008 when they welcomed their first child, Abhigyaan. However, Abhigyaan was later diagnosed with autism, which presented its own set of challenges for the family. In 2010, Sagarika gave birth to their second child, Aishwarya.
What did the Norwegian Child Welfare Services do?
In 2011, the Norwegian Child Welfare Services, also known as Barnevernet, made the decision to remove Abhigyaan and Aishwarya, the children, and place them in foster care. The Norwegian government stated that they had been closely monitoring the couple and concluded they were unsuitable parents. They cited instances of alleged improper parenting, such as physical discipline and hand-feeding, as reasons for their intervention.
The situation shocked the Indian couple, as these parenting practices are considered normal in their culture. However, it is important to note that the Norwegian government has stringent laws in place to protect children, regardless of cultural differences.
The custody battle over their children significantly impacted Sagrika Chakraborty’s marriage. The emotional strain and legal complexities associated with the case put tremendous pressure on their relationship.
What was the Norwegian government’s decision in relation to the custody?
In 2012, the Norwegian government made the decision to grant custody of the children to their uncle and grandfather, who resided in Kulti near Asansol, instead of returning them to their biological parents.
Following this decision, Sagarika Chakraborty approached the Burdwan Child Welfare Committee to seek custody of her children. The committee ruled in her favor, recognizing her as the rightful custodial parent. However, the enforcement of this verdict by the police did not take place as expected.
In January 2013, Justice Dipankar Dutta intervened in the matter and delivered a verdict stating that Sagarika should be granted custody of her children. The judge also granted visitation privileges to the children’s uncle and grandfather.
Can I stream ‘Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway’ on Netflix?
Yes, you can. After releasing in movie theatres on 17th March 2023, Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway is finally available to be streamed on Netflix in multiple countries. If you have a Netflix subscription, you can now watch the movie for free and check out the heartbreaking true story of Sagrika Chakraborty.
