Entertainment

HICHKI, Rani Mukherjee’s Come-back Movie, Carries a Message

Bollywood movie titled HICHKI meaning hiccup in English reminds moviegoers across the glove of celebrated achieves who after a series of auditions and interviews were rejected and later acknowledged as role models. In the movie, after several rejections, Naina Mathur portrayed by Rani Mukerji lads a job in an elite school .Despite being a trained and qualified as a teacher, she was denied a job for teaching over five years because of speech impediment. Naina has lived with Tourette syndrome since childhood and made peace with it in adulthood. But the world around her, including her father, is uncomfortable with the involuntary sounds and movements that emanate from Naina’s mouth. “Tourette is in my speech, not in my intellect,” she says.  Tourette’s syndrome may affect one in childhood. It causes uncontrollable repetitive movements or unwanted sounds such as repeatedly blinking the eyes, shrugging shoulders or blurting out distasteful words. She endeavours to make her rebellious and troublemaking students realize their full potential. Based on a 2018 Hindi drama, the film it is directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and produced by Maneesh Sharma and Rani’s spouse Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films. Producers do not hide the fact that plot is an adaptation of the book titled Front of the Class: How Tourette syndrome made me the Teacher I Never Had by Brad Cohen. Rani plays the lead role appreciably along those who are her pupils. Undoubtedly, most of us have watched movies over the years about the tremendous success of a handful teacher who succeeded in transforming the lives of their students. An inspiring teacher can make the lives of underprivileged students in schools meaningful citizens. We watch the  slow and steady transformation of these students on screen.Hichki has  succeeded in  portraying  the characters in Indian context how  a school of repute being forced to enrol  children from the slums next door out of sheer need for space or under the Right to Education Act and dictates of the establishment which cannot be overlooked. The school principal has appointed an underdog to school division number 9F which comprises underdogs from the slums. Mathur is however blessed with a supportive mother, who is separated from her husband, and brother who stand behind her. Her plus point is that she never feels depressed even after so many rejections and knows how to move ahead with aplomb.  The students try whatever possible to drive her away. Mathur stands like an unmovable rock. She is focused on the students overcoming Hichki. Naina has been assigned an arduous and unpleasant task. She must convince the school board as well as her fellow teachers about her talent besides tackling over 14 arrogant, disinterested, rebellious and disrespectful students .Is she justified  in declaring  “There are no bad students, only bad teachers?” (image- The First Post)

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