Movies that touch upon issues related to education and learning
2000's
Arakshan (2011)
Director: Prakash Jha
Writers: Prakash Jha, Anjum Rajabali
Actors: Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Manoj Bajpai
Chillar party (2011)
Summary: Chillar Party is one such Movie that will take us down Memory lane. School and College life is considered as one such part in a human beings life which everyone is cherishing for.What is special for the incidence happened in school life? This is one question that will always strike back in the memories of people when they go back to their olden days.Chillar party makes us think and tell us the sheer innocence makes childhood days special for everyone. The movie is a very small film with a big heart and it makes us realize that Children’ s are more matured than adult species.
Summary: The film celebrates the survival of the human spirit against overwhelming odds and highlights the needfor underprivileged children's education. It’s a film based on former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and is aimed at inspiring the poor to educate their children.
Paatshaala (2010)
Summary: Rahul joins Saraswati Vidya Mandir, which is located in Mumbai's Eastern suburbs, as an English Teacher. Shortly thereafter he also agrees to teach music at the request of Nutritionist, Anjali Mathur. With the school facing shortage of funds, pressure is being brought by Manager Lallan Sharma to try to get students' parents to pay more for a variety of activities. When the Principal, Aditya Sahay, supports Lallan, the students and staff are forced to raise funds.Despite of their best efforts, however, a stage will be set for a much-publicized confrontation that may well result in the closure of this institution.
Director: Milind Ukey
3 Idiots (2009) 
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Tare Zameen Par (2007)
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Writer: Nagesh Kukunoor
Actors: Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad and Shreyas Talpade
1990's
Sir (1993)
Summary: Sir is a story about a professor who makes a shy personality into something lively. The role of professor is played by veteran Naseeruddin Shah and that shy personality is none other than Pooja Bhatt. In between this, the professor also tries to change the mind of two underworld dons, Velji Bhai and Jimmy but the attempt remains unsuccessful.
Director: Mahesh Bhatt
Writer: Jay Dixit
Actors: Naseeruddin Shah, Pooja Bhatt and Atul Agnihotri
सर फिल्म हालांकि मुम्बई के अंडरवर्ल्ड के आसपास घूमती कहानी है। लेकिन इसके बीच एक अध्यापक को किन समस्याओं से रुबरु होना पड़ता है यह फिल्म बताती है।
1970's
Parichay (1972)
Summary: In desperate need of a job, unemployed Ravi (Jeetendra) goes to his maternal uncle (A.K. Hangal) and aunt (Leela Mishra) in their village for a few days. His uncle decides that he can be a suitable teacher for five obstinate and spoiled grand-children of the wealthy Rai Saheb (Pran). Ravi accepts this offer, and goes to work as a tutor with them. He soon realizes that it is not upto him to keep his employment there, but rather to the children themselves, who have never tolerated any tutor beyond a few days.
Director: Gulzar
परिचय फिल्म शिक्षा के एक ऐसे मुद्दे को गंभीरता से छूती है जिससे हमारे शिक्षक लगातार कक्षा में जूझते रहते हैं। जिन बच्चों का ध्यान पढ़ने-लिखने में नहीं लग रहा है उन्हें इस और कैसे आकर्षित किया जाए। फिल्म इस बात पर भी जोर देती है कि बच्चों को खेल खेल में सिखाया जा सकता है।
1950's
Summary: The film is about a spoiled rich kid, Ajay (Rajkumar Gupta),who is a problem child and is sent away to a boarding school by his grandfather. The board school is run by Shekhar (Abhi Bhattacharya). Shekhar tries to instill good values in the students using unorthodox teaching methods. He gains the students' trust and educates them about the heritage of their country and encourages them to become model citizens.At the boarding school, Ajay continues his ways and gets into trouble all the time, including with Shekhar. Meanwhile, Ajay meets and befriends a crippled boy named Shakti (Rattan Kumar) whose character is the opposite of Ajay. Shakti tries very hard to help Ajay change his ways, but Ajay's stubborn nature gets in the way. Finally one day, Ajay attempts to leave the hostel and Shakti finds out. Shakti tries to go after him and stop him but his handicap slows him down and his earnestness to get Ajay back causes him to lose track of the heavy traffic on the road. That is when Shakti is run over in a horrific accident. This was the triggering moment in Ajay, realizing that it was because of his stubbornness, Shakti died. This moves him to change and become a better person. He goes on to excel in academics and sports.Meanwhile, Shekhar's method of teaching wins approval by the education board in the end. He decides to leave the boarding school to spread his message elsewhere through his unorthodox but successful ways.
Director: Satyen Bose
Writers: Satyen Bose, Pandit Urmil, Manoranjan Ghose
Actors: Abhi Bhattacharya, Pranoti Ghosh and Bipin Gupta
जागृति एक बोर्डिंग स्कूल के माहौल और उसके शिक्षक की कहानी है। जागृति का शिक्षक परम्परागत शिक्षक नहीं है। वह बच्चों के साथ दोस्तों की तरह पेश आता है और कोशिश करता है कि बच्चे अपने परिवेश से जुड़कर सीखें।
Just to take a quick look at how these films have been rated, we drew up a graph.
यहां हम कुछ हिन्दी फिल्मों की चर्चा कर रहे हैं, जिनमें शिक्षा के किसी न किसी मुद्दे को प्रत्यक्ष या अप्रत्यक्ष रूप से उठाया गया है।
2000's
Arakshan (2011)
Summary: Following the Mandal Commission report and the Supreme Court of India's decision to maintain a 27 percent reservation for Dalits and lower/backward castes, right-winged political parties organize protests. The Principal of Shakuntala Thakral Mahavidyalal, a non-government college which is exempt from this mandate, gets in the limelight when it's Principal, Prabhakar Anand, endorses the decision - much to the ire of the trustees as well as the newly appointed Vice-Principal Mithilesh Singh, who has invested Rs.1200 Crores in private coaching classes. Prabhakar refuses to change his stand and ends up tendering his resignation, taking his family, consisting of his wife, Kavita and daughter, Poorbi, to live near Shambhu Yadav's Tabela after they find their family home being taken over by Mithilesh's coaching classes. Attempts to evict Mithilesh's staff will be in vain...
आरक्षण फिल्म की कहानी वैसे तो आरक्षण की नीति का आलोचनात्मक पक्ष सामने रखती है। पर साथ ही वह शिक्षा के व्यवसायीकरण और बढ़ती कोचिंग प्रवृति की तरफ भी ध्यान खींचती है।
Writers: Prakash Jha, Anjum Rajabali
Actors: Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Manoj Bajpai
Chillar party (2011)
Summary: Chillar Party is one such Movie that will take us down Memory lane. School and College life is considered as one such part in a human beings life which everyone is cherishing for.What is special for the incidence happened in school life? This is one question that will always strike back in the memories of people when they go back to their olden days.Chillar party makes us think and tell us the sheer innocence makes childhood days special for everyone. The movie is a very small film with a big heart and it makes us realize that Children’ s are more matured than adult species.
Directors: Vikas Bahl, Nitesh Tiwari
चिल्लर पार्टी अपनी मजे़दार कथा वस्तु के बीच इस बात पर सवाल उठाती है कि स्कूलों में जो पढ़ाया जाता है क्या उसका हमारे आगे के जीवन से कोई सरोकार होता है या नहीं। स्कूल की पाठ्यपुस्तकों में पढ़ी हुई बातें हम बड़े होकर अक्सर भूल जाते हैं।
Writers: Vijay Maurya, Nitesh Tiwari, Vikas Bahl
Actors: Chinmai Chandranshuh, Vedant Desai and Sonamoni Jayant Gadekar
Actors: Chinmai Chandranshuh, Vedant Desai and Sonamoni Jayant Gadekar
चिल्लर पार्टी अपनी मजे़दार कथा वस्तु के बीच इस बात पर सवाल उठाती है कि स्कूलों में जो पढ़ाया जाता है क्या उसका हमारे आगे के जीवन से कोई सरोकार होता है या नहीं। स्कूल की पाठ्यपुस्तकों में पढ़ी हुई बातें हम बड़े होकर अक्सर भूल जाते हैं।
I m Kalam (2010)
Summary: The film celebrates the survival of the human spirit against overwhelming odds and highlights the needfor underprivileged children's education. It’s a film based on former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and is aimed at inspiring the poor to educate their children.
Director: Nila Madhab Panda
Writers: Sanjay Chauhan, Deepak Venkateshan
Actors: Gulshan Grover, Harsh Mayar and Hussan Saad
आई एम कलाम एक ऐसे बच्चे की कहानी है जिसे स्कूल जाने का मौका नहीं मिलता है,लेकिन वह पढ़ना चाहता है। फिल्म इस बात को उठाती है कि हर बच्चे को शिक्षा का अधिकार है और उसे वह मिलनी ही चाहिए। फिल्म हल्के से इस बात की ओर भी इशारा करती है कि बच्चे काम करते हुए भी अपनी पढ़ाई जारी रख सकते हैं।
Paatshaala (2010)
Summary: Rahul joins Saraswati Vidya Mandir, which is located in Mumbai's Eastern suburbs, as an English Teacher. Shortly thereafter he also agrees to teach music at the request of Nutritionist, Anjali Mathur. With the school facing shortage of funds, pressure is being brought by Manager Lallan Sharma to try to get students' parents to pay more for a variety of activities. When the Principal, Aditya Sahay, supports Lallan, the students and staff are forced to raise funds.Despite of their best efforts, however, a stage will be set for a much-publicized confrontation that may well result in the closure of this institution.
Director: Milind Ukey
Writers: Hanif Shaikh (lyrics), Ahmed Khan (story)
Actors: Nana Patekar, Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia
पाठशाला शिक्षा में लगातार हो रहे व्यवसायीकरण के मुद्दे की तरफ ध्यान खींचती है। फिल्म यह भी बताती है कि अगर बच्चे,शिक्षक और अभिभावक सचेत हों तो इसे रोका भी जा सकता है।
3 Idiots (2009)
Summary: What is education? Is it mere securing of good grades and mugging up books? Are those who swot day and night and follow the study curriculum mechanically the ideal pupils? Does the entire burden of education leave any room for original thought? Rajkumar Hirani’s film 3 Idiots attempts to tackle and answer these questions. The film is loosely based on Chetan Bhagat’s bestselling novel ‘Five Point Someone’. It tells a tale of three friends who struggle to enjoy their friendship and youth while trying to ward off the burden of grueling studies in an engineering college.
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Writers: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijit Joshi
Actors: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, Madhavan and Kareena Kapoor
शिक्षा का वास्तविक उद्देश्य है व्यक्ति को ऐसी क्षमताओं से लैस करना जिनके बल पर वह अपना जीवन सम्मानपूर्ण रूप से जी सके। लेकिन क्या हमारे स्कूल या महाविद्यालय वास्तव में ऐसी शिक्षा दे रहे हैं। थ्री इडियट आज की शिक्षा के ऐसी समकालीन मुद्दों को सामने रखती है। Summary: A Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.
Directors: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan
Writers: Simon Beaufoy (screenplay), Vikas Swarup (novel)
Artists: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto and Saurabh Shukla
हालांकि फिल्म झुग्गी बस्ती के बच्चों के जीवन को नजदीक से बताती है। पर उनकी इस कहानी में ही यह बात भी निकलकर आती है कि बच्चे वास्तव में सीखते कैसे हैं। फिल्म इस बात को साबित करती है कि बच्चों के सीखने में उनके परिवेश का माहौल बहुत हद तक जिम्मेदार होता है।
Tare Zameen Par (2007)
Summary: An art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh teaches at a local boarding school and thinks that every child is special and must have his chance of enjoying his/her school days, so he breaks all the rules of 'how things are done' in the school to let his motives became successful, all the children respond to him with joy, all except a small boy named Ishaan Awasthi, of eight years old who seem to be in a different world all the time. Nikumbh soon finds out that Ishaan is unhappy about something. He attempts to help him.The questions remain will he be successful or will the errant prove dangerous for him.
Director: Aamir Khan
Writers: Amole Gupte (dialogue & screenplay), Amole Gupte (story)
Artists: Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan and Tanay Chheda
तारे जमीं पर हालांकि एक ऐसे बच्चे के इर्द गिर्द घूमती है, जो एक खास तरह की समस्या से जूझ रहा होता है। लेकिन फिल्म इस बात को बताती है कि हर बच्चा अपने आप में अलग होता है और वह अपने तरीकों से सीखता है। इसके बात के प्रति न तो हमारे स्कूल और न ही हमारे शिक्षक संवेदनशील होते हैं।
Iqbal (2005)
Summary: Nagesh Kukunoor’s latest directorial venture Iqbal is a gritty tale about the rise of an underdog. The movie tells the story of a deaf-mute boy who harbors a dream of making to the Indian Cricket team as a pace bowler.
Besides having Cricket, which is more than a sport for the Indians (despite our team’s repeated dismal performances), as the common thread that runs through the entire movie, Iqbal is the story of a deprived boy’s grit, determination, hardwork and unending passion for becoming a pace bowler in the national team.
Besides having Cricket, which is more than a sport for the Indians (despite our team’s repeated dismal performances), as the common thread that runs through the entire movie, Iqbal is the story of a deprived boy’s grit, determination, hardwork and unending passion for becoming a pace bowler in the national team.
इकबाल की कहानी क्रिकेट के लिए दीवाने एक बच्चे की कहानी है। जिसका पिता उसके क्रिकेट प्रेम से बेहद चिढ़ता है। लेकिन इकबाल के शिक्षक उसे लगातार क्रिकेट खेलने के लिए न केवल प्रोत्साहित करते हैं, बल्कि कोचिंग भी देते हैं। फिल्म इस बात को सामने रखती है कि हमें बच्चों की प्रतिभा को पहचानकर उसे निखारने का प्रयास करना चाहिए।
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Writer: Nagesh Kukunoor
Actors: Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad and Shreyas Talpade
1990's
Sir (1993)
Director: Mahesh Bhatt
Writer: Jay Dixit
Actors: Naseeruddin Shah, Pooja Bhatt and Atul Agnihotri
सर फिल्म हालांकि मुम्बई के अंडरवर्ल्ड के आसपास घूमती कहानी है। लेकिन इसके बीच एक अध्यापक को किन समस्याओं से रुबरु होना पड़ता है यह फिल्म बताती है।
1970's
Parichay (1972)
Director: Gulzar
Writers: Gulzar, based on a Bengali novel, Rangeen Uttrain by Raj Kumar Maitra
Actors: Jeetendra, Jaya Bahaduri, Sanjeev Kumar
(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216067/plotsummary)
Kitaab (1977)
Summary: Babla (played by Master Raju) is a kid who lives in a village with his mother (played by Dina Pathak). His mother sends him to his sister's (played by Vidya Sinha) place (in a city) so that he can go to a good school. Initially, Babla likes both school as well as sister's home very much and becomes a good friend with Pappu (played by Master Tito), his classmate. They roam around in streets, watch street magic show and wish they could do such tricks, look inquisitively at how sweets are made, make fun of teacher etc. But Babla gets reminded of the harsh reality of life when his sister and brother-in-law starts scolding him for his disinterest in studies and complaints from the school regarding his so-called irresponsible behavior (like making fun of teachers, singing in the classroom etc.). He gets to realize that nobody understands kids, their innocence, their view of life and he will have to grow up to enjoy life fully.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitaab)
Director: Gulzar
Writers: Bhushan Banmali, Samaresh Basu (story)
Actors: Uttam Kumar, Vidya Sinha and Shreeram Lagoo
किताब अपने नन्हें नायक के जरिए इस बात को सामने रखती है कि बच्चे स्कूल से क्यों दूर भागते हैं। ज्यादातर स्कूल बच्चों के लिए एक कैद की तरह होते हैं। वहां उन्हें अपने मन के मुताबिक कुछ भी करने की इजाजत नहीं होती है। ऐसे में उनकी स्वाभाविक अभिव्यक्ति और उभरते कौशलों के विकास में गंभीर अवरोध पैदा होता है।
1960's - We haven't found any! Please write to us if you know about any movies in this decade and we shall add them.
1950's
Jagriti (1954)
Summary: The film is about a spoiled rich kid, Ajay (Rajkumar Gupta),who is a problem child and is sent away to a boarding school by his grandfather. The board school is run by Shekhar (Abhi Bhattacharya). Shekhar tries to instill good values in the students using unorthodox teaching methods. He gains the students' trust and educates them about the heritage of their country and encourages them to become model citizens.At the boarding school, Ajay continues his ways and gets into trouble all the time, including with Shekhar. Meanwhile, Ajay meets and befriends a crippled boy named Shakti (Rattan Kumar) whose character is the opposite of Ajay. Shakti tries very hard to help Ajay change his ways, but Ajay's stubborn nature gets in the way. Finally one day, Ajay attempts to leave the hostel and Shakti finds out. Shakti tries to go after him and stop him but his handicap slows him down and his earnestness to get Ajay back causes him to lose track of the heavy traffic on the road. That is when Shakti is run over in a horrific accident. This was the triggering moment in Ajay, realizing that it was because of his stubbornness, Shakti died. This moves him to change and become a better person. He goes on to excel in academics and sports.Meanwhile, Shekhar's method of teaching wins approval by the education board in the end. He decides to leave the boarding school to spread his message elsewhere through his unorthodox but successful ways.
Director: Satyen Bose
Writers: Satyen Bose, Pandit Urmil, Manoranjan Ghose
Actors: Abhi Bhattacharya, Pranoti Ghosh and Bipin Gupta
जागृति एक बोर्डिंग स्कूल के माहौल और उसके शिक्षक की कहानी है। जागृति का शिक्षक परम्परागत शिक्षक नहीं है। वह बच्चों के साथ दोस्तों की तरह पेश आता है और कोशिश करता है कि बच्चे अपने परिवेश से जुड़कर सीखें।
Just to take a quick look at how these films have been rated, we drew up a graph.
Data taken from IMDB, the Internet Movie DataBase.
