Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway: Meet Sagrika Bhattacharya, The Inspiration Behind Rani Mukerji’s Film

What a comeback! Rani Mukerji is here to win hearts with her upcoming release, 'Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway'. The trailer of the film was released today and it is being lauded by one and all. Directed by Ashima Chibber, it is one of the most-anticipated movies of the year. The emotional drama tells the tale of a mother who fought all odds to win back the custody of her children.

The film is based on the true story of Mrs Bhattacharya who was granted the custody of her children in January 2013. The infamous incident took place May 11, 2011, when the Norway child welfare service snatched Sagarika and Anurup Bhattacharya's two children and placed them in foster care.

Watch the trailer of the film here.

The Story Of Mr and Mrs Bhattacharya

Sagarika Bhattacharya and Anurup Bhattacharya, a Bengali couple who had migrated to Norway. The couple lived with their two kids, two and a half years old Avigyaan and one year old, Aishwarya. Sagarika revealed that it all started when she had allegedly slapped Avigyaan, (who was showing autism-like-symptoms) over some mischief and Norway's government-run Child Protective Services received an anonymous tip-off about the same. It was November 2010, when a team from the CWS visited Sagarika's house for the first time after "receiving disturbing alerts about Abhigyan and his relationship with mother".

However, they left without any action upon seeing Sagarika pregnant. Aishwarya was born a month after their first visit. Abhigyan autistic behaviors were peaking, and he used to get frustrated watching his sister be breast-fed. Managing home and two children had taken a toll on Sagarika and eventually, the kindergarten where she was sending Avigyaan began sending out alerts to CWS. She was then asked to sit for Marte Meo counseling for being "disorganized, unpunctual, lacking in structure and unable to establish a proper daily routine for herself or her family".

Finally on May 11, 2011, the CWS snatched Sagarika & Anurup's kids, stating they were not being brought up properly. After the matter went to the court, it was decided that both of them will be placed in separate foster homes till they are 18 and their parents could visit them twice a year for one hour at a time.

Charges Against Sagarika By Norway CWS

The Norway CWS officials pressed charges of 'forceful feeding' over Sagarika as she fed her children with her own hands. They even frowned upon the fact that Abhigyan slept on the same bed with his parents, and that the couple were incapable of providing suitable clothes and toys to their kids.

After a long battle and diplomatic row between India and Norway, the custody of Abhigyaan and Aishwarya was finally given to Anurup's brother. He brought them back to his home.

Sagarika-Anurup's Separation

The battles they fought and tough times gradually took a toll on the relationship of Sagarika and Anurup, who decided to part ways. Finally in 2013, Sagarika won yet another legal battle for the custody of her children, this time it was against her estranged husband, Anurup. In January 2013, the Calcutta High Court awarded the custody of Abhigyan and Aishwarya to Sagarika.

After winning the battle, Sagarika in an interview with NDTV in 2013 had said, "It's a huge relief and I want to convey my regards to my well-wishers." She added, "My ordeal is finally over. I cannot express my emotions, because I couldn't meet my children for a long time. I just pray to God that children can always stay with me."