Nil Battey Sannata

Not rated by wogma

The show I went for was cancelled and I won't be able to make it for another show at least until Monday. By Monday, we will also have external reviews and twittter verdict out. Do keep an eye out for those updates.

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Genres: Family, Social
Preview: Seems like a small story that is big-time after our hearts. ... read more...
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Nil Battey Sannata - Preview

A mother-daughter relationship that seems as real as it gets, financial status no bar. No mother can do enough, no daughter can have enough and repent enough after the big show down.

Nil Battey Sannata, as puzzling as the title is (nothing divided by silence?), seems to be a straightforward underdog film that will be all about the details. We pretty much know how it is going to end up, but the details are out to mesmerize and reach out to the heart.

Ratna Pathak Shah's reassuring presence with Swara Bhaskar's eagerness and Ria Shukla's character's brash honesty in the trailer have set it up nicely for a warm Friday watch.

- meeta, a part of the audience

The show I went for was cancelled and I won't be able to make it for another show at least until Monday. By Monday, we will also have external reviews and twittter verdict out. Do keep an eye out for those updates.

- meeta, a part of the audience

19 reviewers(?) - 16 yays 3 so-so 0 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, by ASIRA TARANNUM, Deccan Chronicle : ...Debutant director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari has shown this heart-warming story in an entertaining and emotional way. The climax of the film makes one choke. Though the first half is slow, the second half picks up the pace. The casting of every character by Mukesh Chhabra is apt and Riya is a great find. It’s refreshing to see Swara switch from being a talkative sister to Salman Khan (Prem Ratan Dhan Payo) to a single mother. She bears the burden effortlessly. Producer Aanand L Rai and Eros have shown that small films can be brought to the celluloid with entertainment. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Yatharth Chauhan , Desi Martini : ...Nil Battey Sannata is an accomplishment because it doesn’t try to win your sympathies, but successfully attempts to earn your hearts. I spent most part of my time watching this crisp film with a smile and yet came out with my heart filled with the rooted emotions brought out later. If it could make ‘Mathematics’ look sweet, think what it can do to you! ... full review

Thumbs up, by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare : ...The best films, like the best stories tell you something about yourself. Through their characters and situations these films show you a mirror not just to life itself but to your own personality and experiences. Also, such films are a rarity. They're about as abundant as most people's bank accounts. And yet, their richness leaves a lasting impact on you. ... full review

Thumbs up, by UDITA JHUNJHUNWALA, FirstPost : ...Using locations, sets, costumes, language and setting (Agra), Iyer Tiwari creates an authentic world with a universal emotional core. However, at the close, the narrative trips over its own benevolence. The relationship between Bhaskar and Pathak Shah is a touch overdone and, while it managed to skip melodrama and manipulation throughout, the end succumbs to sermonizing (and a kitschy song called ‘Maa’) which dilutes the impact of an otherwise assured debut delivered with a lightness of touch and a positive message. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Johnson Thomas, Free Press Journal : ...There are no flashy moments, no cut-aways to scenic splendors – just everyday, routine visuals made classy because they lend contextual vividity and texture to moods and moments enshrined within. The editing, background score and production values are also first rate. Ashwiny, an advertising professional, had assisted her husband Nitesh Tiwari on ‘Chillar Party’ and ‘Bhoothnath Returns.’ She also has a nine minute short ‘Whats for Breakfast?’ in her credit list. This film proves that she is a talent to be reckoned with. The simplicity and eloquence with which she has managed to tackle a serious and dry subject sets her up as prodigious and imminently worthy. And never mind the title, this film is bound to achieve cent per cent results! ... full review

Thumbs up, by Vishal Verma, Glamsham.com : ...All said and done, NIL BATTEY SANNATA is an applauding cinematic triumph, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari gives a little gem of a humanistic, motivating and beautiful fable that celebrates the joy of having a dream and is an ode to woman hood and motherhood, anchored by Swara Bhaskar's career best performance till date. Highly recommended, it's a must if you love good, inspiring cinema. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Gautaman Bhaskaran, Hindustan Times : ...Bhaskar affirms this with a rare power and simplicity -- a yawning difference from the parts she played as a modern woman in the Tanu Weds Manu series. As is often believed in Bollywood, an actor must be able to let go his/her own self and sink into a character and she does. ... full review

Thumbs up, by RAJEEV MASAND, IBN Live : ...But at the heart of the film is Swara Bhaskar as Chanda who refuses to give up on her dream and her daughter. Not one note out of place, she grabs your attention, be it in shining hope or in crushing disappointment. Tiwari directs the film as a touching ode to motherhood, even if it does seem to labor the point towards the last half hour. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint : ...In her second lead role after Listen… Amaya, Bhaskar slips under the skin of the wily, determined Chanda, her mobile face switching from broad comedy to panic as she realizes she’s scrounging for money to pay for dreams she isn’t sure her daughter even has. Shukla deserves credit for playing up Apeksha’s brattiness; it’s a combative, un-endearing performance, unusual from a child actor. Pankaj Tripathi, on the other hand, could hardly be more delightful as the principal of the school and Chanda and Apeksha’s sarcastic math teacher. As has rightfully happened with Bhaskar, it’s time someone cast him in the lead. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Jaidev Hemmady, Movie Talkies : ...It takes real courage to attempt a film on a social issue without any big stars and send across a message with a dose of entertainment and humour and Nil Battey Sannata accomplishes this with flying colours. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Kunal Guha, Mumbai Mirror : ...Director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari deserves credit for transforming a very average story with a predictable moral into a film that leaves you feeling snug and content. Composer duo Rohan and Vinayak strum up a refreshingly soothing soundtrack, from the playful "Maths Mein Dabba Gul" to the tingling earworm "Murabba", which plays during the opening credits. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...This film says a great deal about a girl-child's struggles, a mother's hopes and the ways of the education system. But, in the end, Nil Battey Sannata is also a good old story about life and its vicissitudes. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Namrata Thakker, Rediff : ...Watch this film with your mother. The film is truly a fitting tribute to mothers and their unconditional, selfless love. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...For the outstanding story, interesting storytelling style, and incredibly authentic performances, this one is a must-watch! ... full review

Thumbs up, by Namrata Joshi, The Hindu : ...There are plot points you could nitpick on but at the end of the day Nil Battey Sannata remains a warm, feel-good film which offers hope and the promise of upward mobility that doesn’t depend on the social strata you come from but your own will and diligence. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Mohar Basu, Times of India : ...Swara Bhaskar, Ria Shukla and Pankaj Tripathi enthrall with their riveting performances. Though the tempo drops considerably in the second half, Ashwiny ensures that the film never loses its charm. It does get preachy and you find yourself shifting in your seats a lot towards the final scene, but the movie wins you over with its innocence and simplicity. ... full review

So-So, by Suparna Sharma, Deccan Chronicle : ...But Nil Battey Sannata belongs to Swara Bhaskar who has till now played motormouth, opinionated, fiery peripheral characters. Here she takes centrestage and holds us — Lo and Behold Messrs Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra — not with a truckload of costume, hair and make up experts, but the sheer strength of her talent. She is an incredible actress. Watch Nil Battey Sannata for its acting talent, if nothing else. ... full review

So-So, by Suhani Singh, india today : ...The brightest stars of the film are its actors and Tiwari and her team of writers who celebrate the mother-daughter bond. Mother's Day is on May 8 and Nil Battey Sannata is a timely, fitting tribute to the paramount figure in all our lives without whom we are all lesser beings.... full review

So-So, by Shubha Shetty-Saha, MiD DAY : ...While the first half is smooth and keeps you involved, the second half falters at many points and the climax seems too convenient and hurriedly wrapped up.... full review

34 tweeters(?) - 34 yays 0 so-so 0 nays

UrsfrndlyAKM: My words on #NilBatteySannata . Thank you 4 giving us such a heartwarming film Mam. :) https://t.co/5iPxMmasuv

toastingtoaster: Nil battey sannata : Too good a movie to give a miss

tiwarisac: Nil Battey Sannata - school & the classroom is back in Bollywood after Tare Zameen Par . mke it a must watch. nothing 'new', yet plenty!

TheFakeGeek: Nil Battey Sannata - Such a nice, clean, honest and fun movie! Needed it to get over the anguish from Fan!

Swudzy: Forget Maths.#NilBatteySannata is a lesson in Filmmaking.Brilliantly written. @Ashwinyiyer @ReallySwara https://t.co/D270IW1na2 #MovieReview

spot_boyy: "Nil Battey Sannata" BRILLIANT FILM

Spamsterr: "Nil Battey Sannata is an absolute gem." .... 3.5 stars

sonia_sodah: Saw Nil Battey Sannata. inspiring, moving, uplifting! Great film! Outstanding performances! A... https://t.co/miPPkOh5XD via @HOUSESWAPAN

shantanugupta: Thank you @Ashwinyiyer for making Nil Battey Sannata! After Natsamrat I have seen a movie with so brutal honest acting,story & direction!

service4ca: Watched Nil Battey Sannata. Good Movie.

sanjaydesai93: Nil Battey Sannata - an extraordinary film I've seen in a long time. Must watch. https://t.co/q8cCQ3CUkh

Roshanisharma13: Nil Battey Sannata Review: #Swara #Bhaskar’s Impressive #Acting Charms One and All https://t.co/tZ70Pyb2Tr https://t.co/2AbStPQ0SR

ravi_sharma18: Nil Battey Sannata..... full marks to the movie...... Touched......

pramodsanghi: 'Nil battey sannata' A must watch for every mother- every child. Swara Bhaskar you are a rockstar and Chhabra... https://t.co/RJvEJ5FVVB

one_the_na: Nil Battey Sannata is an inspiring movie about a mother's dreams. Brilliant acting by #SwaraBhaskar. I loved it! #NilBatteySannata

nsujoy: One of those rare Bollywood movies which convey a message. https://t.co/6W3LVqaM12

nishantofficial: Sab kaam chhod ke ye film zarur dekhna sab log is weekend....! Swara Bhaskar Pankaj Tripathi Nil Battey Sannata https://t.co/wwrndaYqCH

NishaGanneri: Nil Battey Sannata! Jab jago tab savera :) Loved it. Go watch! https://t.co/cIO4ijznA0

nishad_nk: Ashwini Iyer Tiwary handles the subject of our education system with subtlety and in a humorous way in 'Nil battey Sannata'

manasgulati: Nil battey Sannata is an excellent watch. Good meaningful cinema with excellent performance from the actors specially Swara Bhaskar. #Dream…

khalidrafiq141: Hindi Movie 'Nil Battey Sannata' Review; A Real Gem of a Film https://t.co/dsO1lhYO0d

KaranDhurka: 'Nil Battey Sannata' - a really good and inspiring movie !!

idrrajdeep: A heartwarming mother-daughter story about dreaming big within the humble means.Nil Battey Sannata is a beautiful little gem.

FilmyWave: #NilBatteySannata is a rare film, the kind that will bring tears to ur eyes but leave a smile on ur face ★★★½ https://t.co/8wHfE5TjgI

drnvss: ' Nil Battey Sannata' a must movie for everyone. Less than 2 hrs. Fantastic acting and photography. Excellent mother daughter relationship

ChinmayNakhwa: #NilBatteySannata this is that sweet and refreshing film which comes once in a while. a must watch.. https://t.co/TXr7iwoj28

bilkulrafat: 'Nil Battey Sannata': Light hearted yet hard hitting https://t.co/dgYiI4oqDO

bhatnaturally: Salute to the millions of 'Chanda's in India today - respect. Loved Nil Battey Sannata

behkisaand: Nil Battey Sannata makes you wish, what every parent wishes for their children. Watch it! #MustWatch https://t.co/UZT7owpxLZ

AWearyFeminist: just watched Nil Battey Sannata and what a heart warming performance! Thank you for making such a lovely movie @SwaraBhaskar! Loved it!

AnmolAhuja: You CANNOT miss this film! @ReallySwara's performance will move you. It's that good. More - https://t.co/DTbjcfaa8O https://t.co/SeSUa5bIdA

AmritaSunaina: Nil Battey Sannata ...indeed Good movie ...

agrituraj: A heart-warming yet entertaining movie! @ieEntertainment @ReallySwara https://t.co/Ac481IWlN6

AcheDinAaneWale: ‘Nil Battey Sannata’ review: Swara Bhaskar shows performance-heavy films can also be fun https://t.co/jWQrerraAG #TopNews #India

2 readers - 2 yays 0 so-so 0 nays

Not Interested in Watching, by Anuj

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Anand Sachdev : A must watch specially at multiplex !!!

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Fan

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Comments (12)

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Fan

Too bad that your review won't be out till at least Monday. Anyways, looking forward to the Monday.

@Fan Well that is if the shows on Monday aren't cancelled.

Fan

@Meeta: can they do that, i.e. cancel a show at the drop of a hat? I mean what about people who have bought their tickets and made certain plans?

@Fan Oh they do that all the time. They cite "technical issues" but more often than not, it is because of less than 7-10 tickets sold (depending on the theater) 10 minutes before the show.

These days for fear of complaints, some box office attendants have told me that if I want, they will screen it just for me too - it was for a documentary, can't remember which one. But, you know, for me safety becomes an issue at times like these. Even with 4-5 other people, I am not comfortable sitting mostly by myself in a dark room. So, I choose to skip.

Today, though both were actually cancelled. They were there on Bookmyshow an hour or so before the show time and when I arrived there, it was, "madam, there is no show at this time" It was erased from their system :D When I prodded of course, they said, yeah it was cancelled.

If I had bought it online, they would have returned the money including parking. But who will refund the time lost, let alone commute cost?

Anand Sachdev

Splendid Performances by the lead cast, simple but to the point story, This is one of those very few movies that leave you feeling positive about life, about dreams. Hats off to Swara Bhaskar and the whole team behind such a movie :-)

Anuj

@Meeta - I assume you watch movies at high end multiplexes of one of the urban metros. Don't see how safety can be an issue in any of them even if you're all alone. Unless of course you're circumspect of the dark :P

Anuj

@Fan : Reiterates my point once again. I do not blame film makers for making such films but the blame squarely lies on the distributors and exhibitors in such a scenario. A movie that has almost zero chance of considerable theatrical viewership (10 lakh plus footfall) ahould never find a release in the theaters, however well made the films is. With alternate options like the internet and digital television available, its best if producers explore these means and release such small scale movies on the internet directly. Satellite television+internet viewership is a lot more than theatrical viewership these days, even for the big ticket films.

Fan

@Anuj: Multiplex in a metro or single screen. I can fully empathize with Meeta's remarks. It really does not give a comfortable feeling being alone with only a couple of strangers in a dark hall.

Fan

exploring other distribution channels should be the way for such low budget and highly niche films. One can even explore a release on some established TV channel too, they are constantly hungry for software to keep their channels up and running 24 x 7.

Thank you, @Fan

@Anuj, it just doesn't feel safe. Dark or light, open area or closed - being by yourself with a couple of strangers is always having to be on guard. How am I going to focus on the film, let alone enjoy it.

Not to mention, I have heard a couple of nasty, eeky-yucky stories by friends who went by themselves. In fact, in both cases they were a group of girls, not even alone.

I think twice even before I go trekking by myself. Just not worth the risk (or even discomfort).

Fan

Once again here comes a film for which I feel that the highest available Wogma rating of "Yay! Thumbs Up" does injustice to the film. This film is a wonderful story told in the most lucid and enjoyable manner on celluloid screen. This should be a part of the portfolio of films that everyone should watch before dying.

Just a few minutes into the film, and I was totally drawn into the lives and dreams of Chanda and Appu (Apeksha) Sahay. Very rarely have I seen a film with so much emotions packed into the story, acted out by naturally gifted actors, and the whole experience recounted by the director in a poetic flow.

Splendid.

How so often have we heard in real and reel life that a doctor's son (child) becomes a doctor, an engineer's son (child) becomes an engineer. And so on. And how we associate and accept that for the "white collared" professions. And it seems all a respectable dream. After all a child having grown up in an environment is likely to be highly influenced by that environment to shape his/her professional life.

Now if this concept is extrapolated (mathematics must be felt) on the down side, then the same logic says that a driver's son (child) becomes a driver, a peon's son (child) becomes a peon, and a maid's son (child) becomes a maid. And soon this same concept sounds so base. Why could a maid's child not aspire to be a doctor / engineer / banker / collector? Is our society that much compartmentalized into the new caste system that permits only the rich and self-sufficient families to dream a bright future for their children?

Nil Battey Sannata (as per the film it is a proverb in UP region meaning roughly GOOD FOR NOTHING) brings the story of a mother, or rather an ambitious mother, who dreams of a good quality higher education for her daughter. On the other hand, the daughter having been brought up in slums and government schools alongwith children of the same background has her priorities set on watching TV - playing games - lazing around - briefly, on everything else other than studies. And the daughter's point of view is important too, she has never seen in her life any good come out of good education to people from her strata of the society. Thus, her dreams, if she has any, are more modest.

How the mother goes about trying to fulfill her dreams and ambitions, and does she succeed in that attempt, make up the wonderful experience called Nil Battey Sannata.

All along the movie, there is this underlying feel good and humorous feeling - but this constant fear of what the end is going to turn up to be. Would it be a feel good ending, or would it take a dark turn? Fears of Chandni Bar, and hopes of Well Done Abba both churn up in the heart. I would let the viewers discover themselves how the story ends up - whatever the film makers have dished out is a good watch.

The film is ably supported by the side characters - Ratna Pathak Shah in a cameo is a breath of fresh air. Pankaj Tripathi is an absolute treat to watch, and you cannot avoid a natural smile forming on your face each time that he shows up on the screen.

The other characters (Pintu, Amar, Dr. Dewan's husband, etc.) have played a fantastic role - each character very well portrayed.

And of course the biggest thumbs up are reserved for Swara Bhaskar and the teenager Ria Shukla.

@Meeta: you were unable to catch it in theatre - pity. But I do suggest that you watch it now (DVD, TV, Streaming). I would not suggest TV, especially if there are going to be commercial breaks. Watch it in one go, without interval too. This is an experience you do not want interrupted even to just go and get a popcorn or cola.

Best film this year so far.

@Fan I feel sore about having missed this. Even more after what you've written. Will certainly look for an official copy. I try my best not to download. Thanks.

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