Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Ayesha Takia Azmi, Nana Patekar
Direction: Milind Ukey
A hit film germinates a hundred clones in Bollywood. Here “Taare Zameen Par” is the parent. Of course, the makers will say “TZP” didn't talk of children being ‘used' for reality shows but the fact is the core remains the same.
No problem with the premise as we need films that raise pertinent questions on our education system, which is fast becoming a commercial exercise.
Milind is talking about a school in transition of thought. It is helmed by a principled Anand Sahay (Nana Patekar).
He is facing pressure from the management to take on the competition from the rival schools which have turned temples of knowledge into five star facilities where the focus is on the tangibles. Education and health seem to have taken a backseat in the race to be on reality television.
The problem is ideas don't make a film, nor do some biting statements taken out of newspaper editorials.
They need to be seamlessly incorporated into a screenplay.
Debutant Milind Ukey seems to have missed this crucial lesson in the ‘ paathshaala' of filmmaking.
Right from the school, which has a cardboard look, he has a churned out a loud, unrealistic film which is full of one dimensional characters and stereotypical emotions. Even if he had incorporated half of the honesty that Nana Patekar has integrated in his climax speech, the film would have taken off to a different level.
The good thing is he has spared us from the romantic angle in a topical film but rest of the expected ingredients – student's crush on teacher, the boy with a wart on face is not loved, the Geography teacher speaks with a heavy Bangla accent because she has Bose for surname, the Hindi teacher puts a flower in her hair and is guarded in front of English teacher – are very much there.
Shahid Kapoor never gets into the character of an English teacher.
He walks into the staff meetings as if he is invited to a boardroom meeting to crack a deal.
A panel discussion on a news channel is a better option. At least you can mute it!
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