‘Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway’ Netflix Movie Review - Melodramatic But Engaging

The film "Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway" is based on the true story of Sagarika Chakraborty, whose battle with the Norwegian child protection services made headlines over a decade ago. The film, directed by Ashima Chibber and starring Rani Mukerji, portrays the struggles faced by Sagarika and her husband Anurup, although the characters' names have been changed. While the film tackles some moments effectively, it often resorts to excessive simplification and overstatement, missing opportunities to explore complex issues.

One of the film's shortcomings is its avoidance of uncomfortable discussions and challenging problems. For example, it fails to address the financial difficulties faced by Debika, the protagonist, who promises to work hard without a clear plan for supporting herself and her children. Additionally, a scene where Debika's son pretends not to recognize his real parents is left unresolved, leaving the audience wondering about its outcome.

The portrayal of Anirudh as an abusive husband is limited to a few impactful scenes, without further development or consequences. The film also rushes through the depiction of Debika and Anirudh's relationship before their children are taken away, condensing it into a single song. Moreover, the film depicts a pivotal minister in the Indian government who aided in resolving the case, but the omission of any Congress party affiliation raises questions about the film's political bias.

However, the film's clunky storytelling style undermines its intended messages. It fails to objectively examine the Norwegian system or scrutinize Indian culture, both of which have their own shortcomings. While the film briefly mentions legitimate concerns such as corporal punishment, marital violence, and the unequal distribution of household work, it fails to delve deeper into these issues. Instead, it lazily attributes everything to "cultural differences," missing the opportunity for a meaningful conversation about the best interests of children in troubled marriages worldwide.

Furthermore, the film abruptly introduces the theme of patriotism in the end, incorporating the national anthem without proper context. Rani Mukerji's performance, although she is a talented actress, is undermined by the film's overwrought writing and direction. Her portrayal of Debika lacks charm and depth, contributing to the overall deficiencies of the script. Anirban Bhattacharya delivers a better performance than Anirudh, effectively conveying his frustration and anger towards Debika. Jim Sarbh also stands out, bringing some liveliness to his role as a lawyer.

The film's portrayal of Norwegian child welfare officials is one of its most glaring problems. They are caricatured as old-school Hindi cinema villains, lacking any redeeming qualities and presenting a one-dimensional view of these characters.

In summary, "Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway" falls short due to its overemphasis on melodrama, missed opportunities for nuanced exploration, and flawed characterizations. Despite the strong performances by the actors, the film fails to deliver a compelling narrative and lacks a balanced examination of the real-life events it is based on.

Final Score- [6.5/10]
Reviewed by – Neha Krishna
Follow @Neha25Krishna on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times