When it comes to speaking theoretically, we complete our education in terms of academics at some point in life. However, it is the learning that never stops. This student teacher rapport has been dear to India’s former president, the late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. On his birthday October 15, we observe World Students’ Day.
Bollywood films have time and again portrayed classroom drama on the silver screen. The A-listers in the grapevine industry have essayed some of the most unusual characters in the form of students. On the occasion of World Students’ Day, we take a look at eight films that marked some of the best student narratives in a cellulite form.
Nil Battey Sannata (2015)
Released internationally as The New Classmate, Nil Battey Sannata starring Swara Bhasker is the story of a high-school drop-out household maid and single mother of a sullen young girl named Apeksha, played by Ria Shukla. The theme of this film is on how a person has the right to dream big and change their lives, irrespective of social status.
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Black (2005)
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Black stars Rani Mukerji and Amitabh Bachchan, and is based on a deafblind girl, and her relationship with her teacher who himself later develops Alzheimer’s disease. The film draws inspiration from Helen Keller’s life and struggle and was inspired by the 1962 movie The Miracle Worker.
Taare Zameen Par (2007)
A film that did not fail to make its viewers shed a tear is based on the life and imagination of Ishaan, an 8-year-old dyslexic child. Although he excels in art, his poor academic performance leads his parents to send him to a boarding school. However, his art teacher played by Aamir Khan, suspects that he is dyslexic and helps him to overcome his disability.
Stanley Ka Dabba (2011)
The film is based on a student named Stanley who is popular among his friends but doesn’t get tiffin or dabba to school. His journey reveals the reason in a beautifully written narrative that is indeed moving. Directed by Amol Gupte, the film is shot on a low budget and received a positive response by film critics.
3 Idiots (2009)
One of the most loved films of its time featuring Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi revolves around the friendship of three students at an Indian engineering college, and is a satire about the social pressures under an Indian education system.
Helicopter Eela (2018)
The recently released film Helicopter Eela features Kajol in the lead role as an aspiring singer and single mother. It revolves around her trials and tribulations as a single handed parent and also touches upon her life as a student. The film is based on the Gujarati play Beta, Kaagdo, written by Anand Gandhi.
Main Hoon Naa (2004)
This Shah Rukh Khan starrer is the story of Indian army Major who becomes embroiled in the events to ensure that “Project Milap” – the releasing of civilian captives on either side of the borders of India and Pakistan. For this he enrolls himself as a student in the same college as his brother and another student who is the daughter of his senior in command in order to provide protection.
Chalk n Duster (2016)
Starring Juhi Chawla, Shabana Azmi, Zarina Wahab, Girish Karnad and Divya Dutta, the film is about commercialization of the Indian private education system. It touches upon the teachers’ and students’ communication, and highlights the problem of the two which is changing day by day.
