Viva Seus Sonhos

Films with a social message are usually loud and boring. Nil Battey Sannata is a glorious exception. It is a very engaging film on girls' education.

Chanda Sahay has big dreams for her daughter Apu and toils daily as a housemaid and does odd jobs in various sweat shops. On the other hand, Apu who is in class 10 is least interested in school and keeps repeating that her ambition is to become a Bai like her mother. Mother and daughter constantly bicker over this. Chanda's employer, the kind and wise Dr Deewan (Ratna Phatak Shah), comes up with an artful plan and gets Chanda admitted to the same class as Apu. This leads to even more friction and a bit of competition between mother and daughter. Their weakness is maths and a boy, suitably looking nerdy in thick glasses, helps them get over their fear with some astonishing mnemonics.

There are plenty of emotion charged scenes, and if you find your eyes getting wet, it is not because the film is manipulative but because of brilliant scripting and endearing performances. Swara Bhaskar as Chanda and Riya Shukla as Apu are both excellent. Pankaj Tripathi's comically stern principal is a splendid cameo.

The title of the film literally means zero divided by zero and is a local idiom for an idiot. There are a couple of irritants, which I don't want to pick on in what is essentially a very heartwarming and feel-good film. I would recommend that you take along your domestic helps to watch it.

This film coming from a too much commercialized Bollywood is a pleasant surprise. Well crafted script and good direction and excellent performance from the lead actress makes it a memorable movie.

It portrays beautifully the dreams of a widow mother about her only daughter and her fight using limited capabilities to achieve the same.

Swara bhasker as mother of a teenager did an excellent job and it is hard to believe that it is her first movie in a lead role.

Director has also succeeded in getting the natural performance from theyoung artist's. performance of supporting cast is also good especiallythe head master.

With this film Director Ashwini Iyer tripathi can pull a chair and sitin the front row of current Bollywood directors.

This film has got a message which is important for north Indian villages. For sure this film will bring tears at least once while watching it.

What worked: The movie is a tribute to the foundation of our dreams to make it come true; the mother. It's a very well written, acted and directed piece of cinema. Ashwiny and Swara made one of the very heartwarming stories of our time, a tribute to the parents who dream about our dream. Pankaj and Ratna added the needed warmth and flavor to this beautiful movie. Usually the philosophies recited in movies stand flat but this movie had every reasons to mean and make all the philosophical meaningful and relevant , thus making a solid impact when the movie ended. What did not work: Maybe some of the scenes were overly done, meaning the sentiments and emotional content were dramatic but I think we should also understand the theme of the movie. Final verdict: highly recommended

First stand and clap for what the movie tried to do this movie showed the value of dreams (which is the most democratic thing in this world cause everyone can dream and as it is said it is a crime to dream small,dream as big as you can and work for it and dreams do come true ) just brilliant if you see the mom wishing his daughter to have a dream it is the most real thing I have watched in a while. It is very easy to just accept your destiny but i takes real guts to dream beyond your limitations the collector shown in the movie is the person I want to become because the people who strive their way are the ones who know the value of their place and encourage everyone to really dream and change life of your own and people around you who are working so that you can surpass them as it said in this movie "Khud gaaadi chalyega to apne maa baap ko gaadi me kb ghumayega"

FAVOURITE CHARACTER :: Swara (brilliant acting) FAVOURITE MOMENT :: the last dialogues behind the Taj Mahal (signifying how different is life at the other side and they are fighting to get to the other side)

Generally light and nice this movie has received positive reviews. Amongst the few reasons to watch is the direction and acting talent at show by Swara Bhaskar and Ratna Pathak Shah. After a recent release its an extreme delight to see actors like Ratna Pathak Shah playing again. Exceptional talent here displayed by both actors. The movie has an usual story of a woman struggling seeking to educate her daughter earn a respectable life different from her own. Although there is no melodrama there are scenes in the movie good enough to stir your emotions in every possible way. The scenes such as the one where Chanda is taken to meet the school headmaster are one amongst the ones really appreciating.