‘Nil Battey Sannata’ Movie Review: Bright and intense

Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Produced by: Aanand L. Rai
Cast: Swara Bhaskar, Pankaj Tripathi, Ratna Pathak Shah
Duration: 1 hours 40 minute
Bollywood Bubble Rating: 3/5

Recently during an interview about ‘Nil Battey Sannata’, we asked Swara Bhaskar how it was to work with Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari. “Her aesthetic senses are so beautiful, she even makes poverty look beautiful,” she answered. Now after watching the film, we agree. ‘Nil Battey Sannata’ is a fluent tale; realistic yet beautiful.

Chanda Sahai (Swara Bhaskar) works as a maid. She couldn’t complete her education and is determined that her daughter would grow up to be an educated, well-established woman. To make sure it happens, she works day and night and saves money. But Apeksha, aka Appu, is rather interested in Bollywood, belly dance and having fun? “Engineer ka beta engineer banega, doctor ka beta doctor. Aur bai ki beti bai!” How does the journey unfold? Ashwiny, in her very first feature film, has painted a heartwarming story.

Swara Bhaskar was initially hesitant to take this role up. She finally did, and spared herself a huge mistake. She has bravely carried out the film on her shoulder and how we loved her earthen appearance, those raw dialects in her words, her spontaneous expressions! The next person who deserves a mention is Pankaj Tripathi. A compassionate teacher and his love-filled scolding are two things we all have come across in life; and Tripathi is going to put a broad smile on your face!

‘Nil Battay Sannata’ certainly has a relevant plot. It talks about the deprived class’ thirst for education. It talks about the minutest discrimination in the education sector. It shows where exactly the urban concept of education fails a large section of the society. But parallel to it, the film is also about a mother-daughter relationship. It is a lively execution of a mother’s dreams and aspirations for her child. It is a narration of a mother’s firmest determination to ensure the best of life for her child. At the same time, it is also a journey where a little, rather immature girl wakes up to the most intense emotions. It is a story of fulfillment.

We loved Ratna Pathak in her brief but crucial character. Gavemic U Ary’s cinematography needs a special mention. He has made the dirtiest dhobi ghat of Delhi to be a beautiful one, and with him, even the gloomiest moments have somehow earned prettiness. In music, the film almost brought in an entire battle! From Nitesh Tiwary to Shreyash Jain, Mohan Kannan and more. Extravaganza! With each song, the story has walked a few steps ahead.

‘Nil Battey Sannata’ means ‘good for nothing’ or ‘useless’. But you better don’t go by the title! Go watch. You will come out all content.

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