Starring: Rani Mukherjee, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Shivkumar Subramaniam,Neeraj Kabi, Sparsh Khanchandani, Rohit Saraf, Hussain Dalal
Directed By: Siddharth P Malhotra
Genre: Comedy drama
“Let everything you do be done as if it makes a difference”
-William James
The Hindi film industry has a reputation for mass-producing films, many of which lack originality or depth. However, every so often, a story emerges from this landscape that truly resonates and strikes a deep chord.Following the recent celebration of Teacher’s Day, this contrast made me think of the real-life heroes who deserve to be celebrated but often go unacknowledged. These are our teachers, the people who dedicate their lives to shaping our future and helping us realise our potential, yet their immense efforts often go unnoticed. This month, let’s honour the people who tirelessly help us carve out a future for ourselves.
This week talks about a teacher who despite suffering from a setback triumphs over the most daunting obstacles.Who is she, and what battles she has to face ? Read on to find out more.
Storyline: Hichki narrates the story of Naina Mathur, a woman who is suffering from Tourette’s Syndrome.She dreams of becoming a teacher. Despite facing constant rejection due to her condition, which causes involuntary sounds and movements (the “hichki” or hiccups), she never loses hope. When she finally gets an opportunity to teach at an elite school, she’s assigned the most challenging class – a group of underprivileged students from the slums who are part of the school’s Right to Education program.
What unfolds is a beautiful journey of mutual transformation. While Naina battles societal prejudices about her condition, her students fight against class discrimination and low expectations. Together, they create magic in the most unlikely circumstances, proving that every individual deserves a chance to shine.
Scrutiny: The movie serves as a powerful commentary on how society treats those who are different. The film doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh reality of discrimination faced by people with disabilities. It also makes an attempt to address the issue of class discrimination, whose potential is overlooked due to their socio-economic background.
It showcases how both disability and poverty can become barriers to opportunity, while also showing how these barriers can be overcome with the right support and belief.
It also serves as a critique of the Indian education system. It highlights how schools often fail students who don’t fit the conventional mold, whether due to disability, economic background, or different learning styles. The film advocates for inclusive education and shows how innovative teaching methods can reach students that traditional approaches cannot.
Rani Mukerji delivers what can arguably be called one of her finest performances to date. Her portrayal of Naina Mathur is both authentic and deeply moving.The way she balances the character’s struggles with her infectious optimism makes for compelling viewing.The film never becomes preachy or melodramatic, maintaining a perfect balance between emotional moments and lighter scenes.
The cinematography captures both the stark contrast between the privileged and underprivileged worlds and the gradual bridging of that gap.
Areas which can be improved upon-While emotionally satisfying, the story follows a somewhat predictable trajectory of initial struggle followed by triumph.The film’s resolution is overly optimistic about overcoming systemic issues. If issues could be resolved so easily then maybe every problem should have been solved pretty easily. Also, it highlights its focus on a single classroom which is effective for storytelling, may not fully represent the broader challenges in education.
The Sentiment: Hichki is a film that succeeds in its primary objective of telling a meaningful story while entertaining its audience. Rani Mukerji’s performance alone makes it worth watching, but the film offers much more. It’s a celebration of the human spirit, a call for inclusivity, and a reminder that our differences can be our strengths.
The movie works because it doesn’t try to be more than what it is – a simple, heartwarming story about resilience, acceptance, and the transformative power of education. It may not break new cinematic ground, but it certainly touches hearts and minds in equal measure. It is a must watch for anyone interested in stories about overcoming adversity, the power of education, and the importance of seeing beyond surface differences. It’s a film that stays with you long after the credits roll, inspiring you to look at your own “hichkis” as unique aspects of who you are rather than limitations to overcome.
Rating: *** and 1/2 stars
Quote-unquote: “Aakhir soch soch ki hi toh baat hai … kyun ki, kyun aur kyun nahi mein bas soch bhar ka hi faasla hai”
(It’s just a matter of the way one thinks … because only a thought separates, why and why not)
Que: What is the name of the school which Naina Mathur starts her journey as a teacher?
a. St. Xaviers
b. St. Dominica’s
c. St. Notker’s
d. St. Basilica
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