The Norwegian Ambassador to India, Hans Jacob Frydenlund, has criticised the film ‘Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway’ for its factual inaccuracies and misrepresentation of Norway’s stance on family life and cultural differences. He has denied that cultural differences were the primary factor in the case and that feeding with hands and sleeping in the same bed would not be the reason for placing a child in alternative care.
In an editorial article, he stated that the case that inspired the movie was resolved a decade ago in cooperation with Indian authorities and an agreement between all parties involved. The film is a fictional representation of the case, he added.
Hans Jacob Frydenlund has been the Norwegian Ambassador to India for nearly four years and has experienced first-hand the deep-rooted pride Indians take in their cultural heritage. He hopes that the film will not discourage Indians from coming to Norway and that viewers will understand that it is a fictional representation. He acknowledged that the experience was traumatic for those who are involved.
Directed by Ashima Chibber, ‘Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway’ features Rani Mukerji in the lead role. The movie portrays the struggles of a mother who is an immigrant and tries hard to regain the custody of her children despite facing several challenges. Neena Gupta, Jim Sarbh, and Anirban Bhattacharya also played pivotal roles in the movie. The film is set to be released in theatres on March 17.