Genre: Social, Drama
Director: Milind Ukey
Producer: Shaira Khan, Ahmed Khan
Banner: Paperdoll Entertainment
Music Director: Hanif Shaikh
Lyricist: Hanif Shaikh
Star Cast: Nana Patekar, Sushant Singh, Ali Haji, Shraddha Arya, Shahid Kapur, Ayesha Takia, Swini Khara, Dwij Yadav, Avika Gor, Saurabh Shukla, Nassar Abdulla, Sanatan Modi, Anjan Shrivastava, Vicky Ahuja, Preeti Kopikar, Anjan Shrivastava, Sunny Singh, Shraddha Arya, Chetan Motiwala, Rishabh Jain, Sagar Kale
Release Date: 16 April 2010
Aristotle’s famous quotation ‘Well begun is half done’ rightly suits Shahid Kapur starrer ‘Paathshaala’. A take on the Indian educational system, the movie walks on the lines of Aamir Khan’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and ‘3 Idiots’, but fails to create the niche that the two had already set. However, what is interesting to note is that the attempt to both, question and answer the sanctity and ethics of the education system has been dealt with good intentions and a reasonable direction. What falls short is the precision and sharpness of portraying the intentions on the celluloid. Add to this, a dipping storyline and ‘Paathshaala’ swirls up as ‘just’ an impressive flick which you would end up commenting, ‘well tried’.
Based on the old world of schooling, ‘Paathshaala’ revolves around a conventional school, Saraswati Vidya Mandir falling prey to the hands of commercialization and money-making management. Result – baffled students, who were already burdened with a heavy school bag and the ever-increasing aspirations of their over-ambitious parents. Rahul (Shahid Kapur), along with a handful of dedicated teacher and students, take charge of the situation only to realize that the once-an educationist, Principal Sahay (Nana Patekar) is also involved with school manager, Sharma (Saurabh Shukla) to make the educational institute in sync with the contemporary private schools of the city.
A point-blank on reality, ‘Paathshaala’ brings back to life the dark memories of the barbaric attitude that teachers employed to teach students a lesson. What starts as an eye opener, stretches too much leaving the audience with too ‘real’ episodes to digest. The movie boasts of a few defining moments which are surely a paisa-vasool, but the flick, on the whole, is hammered by a loose script and an unimaginative screenplay. There are scenes, which though are identifiable, remain chilly and preposterous, sinking the overall authenticity of the film. The climax as well is not well scripted and performed.
Coming to the performance, Shahid Kapur shines out partly with his act, thanks to the underwritten script. As expected, Nana Patekar plays his role to perfection. Other actors worth mentioning are Sushant Singh and Saurabh Shukla. Ayesha Takia comes in as a ray of hope to the overall look of the film. The music of the film is less than average. Director Milind Ukey has come up with a worth watching tale, but the problem is that it is the ‘compelled introspection’ (so much essential for real dramas) which lies missing. In short, ‘Paathshaala’ is worth a watch, if you are interested in watching how a few noble teachers take a blunt stand against the brutish management of a ‘trying-to-be’ modern school.
Paathshaala Pre-release Review
‘Paathshaala’ marks the debut of Big Pictures, a production house
owned by Anil Dhirubhai Ambani. Directed by award winning Marathi director, Milind Ukey, the movie speaks about the Indian education system and focuses on the contemporary and socially relevant issues related to children. After ‘Fool N Final’, Ahmed Khan and Hanif Shaikh have moved on to the next level with this venture, with Ahmed Khan turning producer, along with wife Shaira Khan, and Hanif Shaikh as lyricist and music composer. With Shahid Kapur portraying a school teacher in ‘Paathshala’ after ‘Chance Pe Dance’, the movie ensures to deliver emotions, comedy and drama in one package. The movie is set to release on April 16, 2010.
Rahul Prakash Udyavar (Shahid Kapur) joins as the new English teacher in Saraswati Vidya Mandir School, in the outskirts of Mumbai suburbs. Though he strikes a good rapport with students and teachers, Rahul soon realizes that there is an undercurrent of something erroneous in the school. All his doubts materialize when he finds out that school manager, Mr. Sharma (Saurabh Shukla), extorts money from the parents, on the context of extracurricular activities. Further, the students are punished inhumanly, if they are unable to fulfill the unjustified demands of the school.
Rahul brings together other teachers of the school (Ayesha Takia, Sushant Singh, Kurush Deboo) to fight against the school management’s violence towards students. However surprisingly, the principal Aditya Sahay (Nana Patekar) defends their decision. The situation worsens with the school involving media planners in the extracurricular activities, forcing students to participate in TV reality shows and various other media PR activities. Eventually, the conditions lead to unexpected and harsh consequences with pressures binding on young minds.
‘Paathshaala’ talks about the present Indian education system and its succumbed nature to the commercialization. Packed with emotions and laughter, the flick ends with a strong message for adults and children alike. Though not very different from Aamir Khan’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Paathshaala’ is based on a sensitive teacher’s interaction with a group of kids in a sensitive, but entertaining way. The movie promises to be an eye opener for the present education system followed in India, by portraying how kids’ reality shows have an adverse effect on children. Wait till 16 April 2010 for the movie to release and check out for yourself its take at the increasing immoralities and unethical practices in our education system.
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Vir Das