Star Cast: Swara Bhaskar
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Director: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
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What’s Bad: A preachy end, slightly puts you back into the seat from this otherwise realistic film.
Loo Break: Only the interval!
Watch or Not?: Surely watch! This film is a beautiful mother-daughter story that will no matter what be relatable to everyone from their growing up years. These are the kind of films that prove cinema is all about story-telling and not star values!
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Chanda Sahay (Swara Bhaskar) is a hard-working woman who manages several small jobs to provide for her daughter’s education. She works as a maid and is lucky to have found an employer (Ratna Pathak Shah) who encourages her towards working hard on her daughter’s education. Apeksha (Ria Shukla) is her teenage daughter who has somehow managed to make it to her 10th standard. She is ‘Nil Battey Sannata‘ as they say at Maths. Academically unambitious, Apeksha feels her mother won’t afford her further education and hence stops taking her studies seriously.
Afraid that all her hard-work on getting her daughter interested in studying are going a waste, Chanda is soon advised by her employer to study herself. Chanda enrolls in the same class as her daughter and that starts to irk Apeksha.
Will Chanda joining school help her daughter realize her dream is what the rest of the plot is about.
The script is winner in Nil Battey Sannata. The slice of life film has so much to offer emotionally that it connects instantly. Capturing the mother-daughter spirit astoundingly, it also celebrates the beauty of education. The kind of confidence that it provides to a person is shown beautifully in this film.
Maths is one subject that has haunted many lives including mine and hence the portions of learning it fun away are appealing. One of the most great things said in the film about Math is the fact that how in most cases, the question itself has the answers and hence if you don’t read the question properly, you cannot get the answers. Of course its the same with life and with such subtle references, this script appeals.
All the characters in this film have been crafted with immense thought. The one that catches the eye other than Chanda and her daughter would certainly be the principal (Pankaj Tripathi). A man who is reluctant at start to accept a full-grown lady to join school but soon turns encouraging with his noble heart.
The scenes where Chanda and her employer conversate are crucial portions of the narrative that inspiring.
It is stirring, the way the themes of aspirations and motherhood are captured in this tale.
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Swara Bhaskar has been in supporting roles in most films lately and here’s a film that proves why she deserved a solo since start. She is an actress with great potential and as Chanda does full justice to her role. She looks extremely comfortable in her role and emotes with such great effect that it is impossible not to feel for her character.
Ria Shukla too does a great job as the rebellious teenage daughter. Her act is captivating enough.
Pankaj Tripathi is more often seen pulling off negative roles but it is a welcome change to see him like this. Only an actor of his caliber can pull off a role this sweet.
Ratna Pathak Shah is effortlessly good in her role of the employer.
Ashwini Iyer Tiwari debuts as a director with this film and we have to say she strikes gold. Right from the first frame, she keeps it simple and that’s what works wonders.
The best part is, the director makes sure that her film is not all talk and no play. In a serious plot, the regular inclusion of light humor is appreciative and the only mistake remains to be a preachy end. Had they resorted to a regular ending, the film could have made its point even more clearer.
Interesting thing about this film is that at no point are you expected to feel pity for Chanda’s character. You respect the character from start and that’s what the director aims to show.
The good part is that the film manages to make a strong point in just 95 minutes.
Nil Battey Sannata is a beautiful film surrounding a mother-daughter relationship. For being not too preachy, nostalgic for all parents as well as kids and emotionally riveting, I am going with a 4/5.
Nil Battey Sannata releases on 22nd April, 2016.
Share with us your experience of watching Nil Battey Sannata.
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