Mother Teresa And Me Movie Review : This film is a sincere effort but falls short of providing an immersive experience

Story: The film presents two parallel narratives that depict the lives of two passionate and resilient women who overcame great odds to achieve success. One story centers around the early years of Mother Teresa in India, while the other follows Kavita, a young British woman of Indian origin.

Review: “Mother Teresa & Me” opens in Kolkata, a year prior to India's independence from British rule. The film begins with Mother Teresa in a frantic state as she tries to shield herself from rioters crawling on a street strewn with corpses and desperately searching for food for 300 starving girls. In a tense moment, a Muslim rioter menacingly raises his sword at Mother Teresa. However, just in the nick of time, a Hindu rioter intervenes, preventing the Mother from being harmed. This poignant and metaphorical scene sets the stage for the film. However, it is disheartening to note that the film fails to sustain the same level of intensity throughout. Although there are occasional sparks, the film is not consistently engaging. “Mother Teresa & Me” is an intriguing story with its own set of peculiarities.

The film portrays Mother Teresa's early years in India, where she expressed her desire to work outside the convent. While the Missionaries of Charity is a significant part of the story, the movie also sheds light on the establishment of Nirmal Hriday. The parallel story of Kavita, a young violinist in the UK, also unfolds alongside Mother Teresa's journey. The film captures the struggles faced by Mother Teresa as she strives to provide education to impoverished girls and shelter to the dying. Kavita's story initially portrays a superficial perspective, but towards the end, she undergoes a metamorphosis after becoming pregnant and visiting Kolkata, her parents' birthplace. Visiting Nirmal Hriday, at the request of Deepali, a family friend who was adopted by Mother, proves to be an eye-opening experience for Kavita.

Jacqueline Fritschi-Cornaz delivers a commendable performance as Mother Teresa, portraying her character with heartfelt emotions and pathos. However, given the nature of the character, more submission and immersion were expected from her, and she falls short in that aspect. Banita Sandhu, in her second film after Shoojit Sircar's “October,” shines in this film, showcasing her talent with a standout portrayal of a conflicted young woman. Despite having limited screen time, Deepti Naval manages to make a decent impression. Director Kamal Musale's direction is competent and effectively brings the characters to life on the screen.

Viewers may struggle to understand why Kavita's story has been intertwined with that of Mother Teresa's. These two women are vastly different, while Mother Teresa dedicated her entire life to caregiving, Kavita appears to be a superficial character consumed by her own life. It is only after a series of events, including a broken relationship and a visit to Kolkata, that Kavita begins to see the world in a new light. While the two stories do intersect at times, they often feel disconnected from each other. As a result, viewers may be left questioning the purpose of the dual narrative.

While “Mother Teresa & Me” is a sincere effort to portray the lives of two determined women side by side, it falls short of providing a truly immersive experience for viewers. Despite its honest intentions, the film misses an opportunity to create a truly captivating and memorable story.