This Is Why I Loved The Movie Nil Battey Sannata

Nil Battey Sannata is a Hindi movie that had recently been released across theatres in India. Here is why it resonated with me, why I loved the movie.

First of all, a very big round of applause for Bollywood for striving to break from its stereotypical plot lines and exploring such fresh, new themes.

The story revolves around a mother-daughter duo. The mother, Chanda Sahay, works as a domestic help and does several odd jobs to save money for her daughter’s education. While the daughter, Apeksha, is in no mood to study because according to her, children follow their parents’ footsteps and hence, she can only hope to become a ‘Bai’ or domestic help like her mother.

Without giving away the whole story or the ending, I’d like to tell you why I loved watching the movie and why I’d highly recommend you to go and watch it.

Reaching for your goals

There is a line in the movie where Dr Deewan responds to Chanda’s complaints about being poor and not being able to afford a good education for her daughter by saying, “Success comes from two things–luck and hard work. If you don’t have the luck, then you need to focus on the hard work.”

This line resonated with me at the deepest level. Coming from a lower middle class background, I always knew that I haven’t really hit the wealth jackpot. Hence, if I wanted to be something I needed to work for it, and that’s why I loved how they portrayed it in the movie.

It’s never too late

When Dr Deewan advises Chanda to start going to school as a student to help her daughter with her studies, Chanda is at first flabbergasted at the bizarre idea of joining a school with teenagers. Again Dr Deewan told her that in life nothing is ever too late. If you keep complaining, nothing will change. Only if you rise up and take actions will things move forward.

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Again, I found a similarity with my own life. I was working in the field of consulting and then finance when I was suddenly bitten by the writing bug. I had always been a voracious reader but I never thought I had it in me to start writing. However, for the first time in my life, I felt that I’d found my passion. So, I was ready to make a fool of myself and write. And I did.

Slowly, I overcame my shyness and started submitting my pieces in various platforms and contests. The joy that I experienced when I saw my writing for the first time on a website such as Women’s Web was too intense to be explained in words.

Right now, two of my pieces on Bengal are slated to be published in a book by Rupa Publications. It’s just a start, but yes, it’s never too late to begin pursuing your passions.

Where there is a will, there is a way

Chanda comes to terms with the fact that given their circumstances, she wouldn’t be able to finance an expensive education for her child. But roadblocks only mean that you need to take a detour! So, she finds out about career options that do not require a lot of money and yet are lucrative professions in today’s world.

I had initially dreamt of doing a PhD in Economics from the U.S. My mother aptly explained to me why she wouldn’t be able to afford the expenditure. I was bummed at first, but then I realized that she did everything within her means to give us the best education she could afford; why should I grudge something she simply cannot provide?

So, I took to working after my Masters in Applied Economics. After a few years, I did my MBA from a college that was funded by the government and hence did not require a lot of money. The only hurdle that can stop us from going forward is our own limitations in thinking.

Interestingly, I was reading this book called The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra where he says that the best way to attract success is to let go of that one outcome you’ve hold dearly in your mind. When you concentrate on the journey rather than the end outcome, you’ll see that even if you don’t get what you want, the Universe will give you what you truly need.

No one can take your dreams away from you

This was the best lesson I got from the movie. No matter what your circumstances, the only thing you can hold on to, are your dreams and hopes. Do not give up on those, because others don’t believe in you. Only you can nurture and feed those dreams or destroy those with your negativity. Choose your options and your life will follow the same direction.

I have always believed in this. No one can tell you what you can or cannot do. Any time you start is the Right Time. Spread your wings and give flight to your dreams. Small steps will take you there. Wishing that things were different or complaining about your circumstances, won’t.

Published earlier here.

Image source: youtube.

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