Cast: Rani Mukerji, Asif Basra
Directed by: Sidharth P Malhotra
Produced by: Aditya Chopra, Maneesh Sharma
Production House: Yash Raj Films
Written by: Sidharth P Malhotra, Ankur Chaudhry
Based on: Front of the class
Cinematography: Avinash Arun
Music: Hitesh Sonik, Jasleen Royal
Genre: Drama, comedy
Plot: Rani starrer Hichki is a remake of an American movie named “Front of the class” which is based on the book with the same name by Brad Cohen. In the movie, Rani is suffering from Tourette Syndrome which is a neuro-psychiatric disorder that results in multiple motor tics. This film tells the tale of an aspiring teacher who fights against the odds and emerges as a fighter in spite of her circumstances.
In the opening scenes, Rani is seen making hics and click noises due to a neurological disorder which she explains with spirit and wit while facing an interview which eventually she is able to clear. After 5 years and 18 unsuccessful attempts, she gets the job of a teacher in one of the most prestigious schools in Mumbai.
Rani Mukerji faces massive challenges as she is given the responsibility to tutor the 14 most notorious students of the school who are considered to be the misfits in the school as they belong to the lower and financially weak strata of the society. The plot has teacher-student dynamics but it is mostly focused on Naina’s speech impairment and her power of intellect.
Movie Review: Naina is struggling to get a job in the profession of her choice and her neuropsychiatric disorder stands as a major hurdle. The head-strong woman is bent upon creating a revolution. The movie is not just a classroom saga rather in the midst we see the struggles of Naina who is fighting her own weaknesses while battling with her challenging childhood and the continued ordeals of the adulthood makes us empathize with the character.
The movie is able to grab your attention at various points. The scene in which Naina drops into the basti to meet her 14 naughty students is thrilling. She finds a student of hers in a queue for filling water from a tanker while another tells her that her machiwali mum has gone to work. The most influencing scene is the soot-smeared garage help who is fixing a puncture. These scenes are the best efforts by the director to touch the emotional side of the audience.
They not only desperately draw emotions but also leaves them teary-eyed. Despite being a misfit for the profession of teaching Naina wants to leave a mark over the impressionable minds in the field of education because years ago a teacher had stood up for her. It would have become a blessing in disguise if some subplots and regular intervals of comic relief were added to the movie as it feels the whole burden of the movie is on Rani.
Our Verdict: The movie has a fresh concept and a strong message that if you are not normal it does not mean you are a misfit or you can’t succeed. The director Siddharth P. Malhotra has beautifully woven the movie, it appears to be engaging, insightful and entertaining but there are certain lose points in the plot which makes the film appear dull and stops it from being as great as it could have been.It is a one-time watch movie which you can go to watch if you are a fan of Rani Mukherjee.
