7 Bollywood Films About The Indian Education System That You Must Watch
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Mainstream Bollywood films are all about action, drama, and romance. However, there are plenty of movies that break from the regular norms and rules of film and television and focus on other aspects of life. Plenty of Bollywood directors have also showcased the powerful and unique bond shared between teachers and their students. Films like Paathshaala, Aarakshan, and 3 Idiots highlighted this magical bond and got us hooked onto the storyline. We got to see teachers from all walks of life and with all kinds of different attitudes towards life. We got to see the good sides of teachers as well as the bad sides and we even learned about the politics and dynamics of a school system. So here are seven Bollywood films that showcase the versatility of the Indian education system:
1. 3 Idiots
3 Idiots is a drama/comedy film released in 2009 and starred Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R. Madhavan, Boman Irani, Kareena Kapoor, and Boman Irani. This film sends a strong message to the Indian education system — highlighting mania related to grades, highlighting college bullying, and the drama that comes with parental demands, and more. The men in the film are studying engineering, and the film is based on a novel by acclaimed author, Chetan Bhagat. The men in the movie have a very love-hate relationship with their professors, and the professors often come across as overly controlling.
2. Aarakshan
Aarakshan takes a turn from the basic and into the ordinary. It is a socio-political film that is directed by Prakash Jha and features a star cast. The film features Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Prateik Babbar, Manoj Bajpayee, and Saif Ali Khan. It is a satire on the policy of caste-based reservations of government jobs and the divisive nature of the policies. The film is based on a judgment that was taken by the Indian Supreme Court and involved the separation of the staff and students at a college in the city of Bhopal.
3. Paathshaala
Paathshaala is a film directed by Milind Ukey and stars Ayesha Takia, Shahid Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Ali Hazi, and Shraddha Arya in leading roles. It follows the story of a well-liked teacher who has just joined a new school and how he tried to convince the staff to unite together. The teacher and the rest of the staff go against the school management as they have a terrible habit of putting unnecessary pressure and stress on the young students.
4. F.A.L.T.U
F. A. L.T.U, which stands for Fakirchand and Lakirchand Trust University, is a hilarious Bollywood film that stars Puja Gupta, Angad Bedi, Jackky Bhagnani, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, Akbar Khan, and Darshan Jariwala. It follows the lives of three not-so-studious friends who decide that they want to open their very own college.
5. I Am Kalam
I Am Kalam is a Bollywood film that follows the story of a young boy named Chhotu who wants to follow in the footsteps of his idol, former Indian president, APJ Abdul Kalam. He forms a somewhat dubious and unequal friendship with another young boy who happens to be the son of a nobleman. The film features Harsh Mayar, Hassan Saad, and Gulshan Grover in lead roles and has won plenty of awards and acknowledgments in the industry.
6. Hindi Medium
Hindi Medium is a heart-warming Bollywood film that follows the story of a relatively wealthy couple, Mita and Raj, and their young daughters’ journey to get into a good school. The parents in the film are played by Saba Qamar and the late Irrfan Khan. The story follows the reality of every Indian parent’s struggle to ensure their kids have a good quality education. Unfortunately for this couple, the path to get their daughter into the school of their dreams is not easy, and they have to tell little (and sometimes big) white lies in order to get her into school.
7. Chalk N Duster
Chalk N Duster follows the story of two teachers by the name of Vidya and Jyoti. The characters are played by veteran actress Shabana Azmi and Juhi Chawla. When Kamini Gupta (played by Divya Dutta) is appointed as the new principal of their school, all hell breaks loose. Kamini Gupta turns out to be quite the tyrant (and befitting of her name) and starts to make changes in the teachers’ routines and methods to get better results. When Vidya calls her out and objects to the changes she wants to make, Kamini decides to suspend her. Her friend and colleague, Jyoti, decides to take on the new principal and get justice for Vidya.
In India, teachers are revered as gurus and guiding lights for a reason. Of course, we are not saying that every teacher out there has to be a shining light. However, it is essential to give them the due respect that they deserve. Do let us know all of your thoughts on this article in the comment section below. Which film are you most excited to watch?
