Pick
up
a
newspaper
or
surf
news
channels
and
I'm
sure,
atrocities
being
committed
on
students
by
teachers/principals
wouldn't
escape
your
attention.
Also
do
a
Google
and
so
many
results
on
this
topic
would
open
up
in
a
fraction
of
seconds.
Educational
institutions
-
not
all,
but
a
few
definitely
-
are
in
a
crazy
rush
to
create
a
brand
for
themselves
and
even
parents
[not
all,
again]
are
keen
that
their
kids
become
scholars
and
whiz
kids
overnight.
Resultantly,
the
child
is
not
just
burdened
with
a
bulky
school
bag
on
his
back,
but
also
carries
the
burden
of
ambitions,
aspirations
and
unfulfilled
dreams
on
his
tiny,
frail
shoulders.
Paathshaala
merely
touches
the
tip
of
the
iceberg.
It
attempts
to
answer
questions
related
to
the
sanctity
of
today's
education
system.
It
sheds
light
on
the
shortcomings
in
today's
schools
and
how
morals
and
ethics
associated
with
the
teaching
profession
seem
to
have
taken
a
complete
backseat.
Let's
not
compare
it
with
Taare
Zameen
Par
or
3
Idiots,
although
a
few
sequences,
in
these
two
trend-setting
films,
threw
light
on
the
pressures
on
students.
Paathshaala,
penned
by
Ahmed
Khan
and
directed
by
Milind
Ukey,
is
well-intentioned.
It
has
a
lot
to
say,
but
the
predicament
is,
what
translates
on
celluloid
is
not
razor-sharp.
Of
course,
there
are
few
defining
moments
in
the
movie,
which
do
make
you
ponder
on
the
plight
of
the
educational
system.
But
there
are
also
portions
-
when
the
media
steps
in
to
boost
the
brand
of
the
school
-
that
are
mumbo-jumbo.
On
the
brighter
side,
the
acting
is
distinguished.
Nana
underplays
beautifully,
Ayesha
adds
to
the
sunshine
moments,
but
it's
Shahid
who
pitches
in
a
commendable
and
convincing
act.
Final
word?
Paathshaala,
made
with
noble
intentions,
could've
been
a
splendid
wake
up
call,
but
it
runs
out
of
steam
midway!
The
story
begins
with
a
new
English
teacher,
Rahul
Prakash
Udyavar
[Shahid
Kapoor],
joining
Saraswati
Vidya
Mandir
School.
Though
he
strikes
an
instant
rapport
with
students
and
teachers
alike,
he
realizes
that
there
is
something
amiss
in
the
school.
Slowly,
his
doubts
prove
true
as
School
Manager
Sharma
[Saurabh
Shukla]
makes
many
monetary
obligations
compulsory
on
the
parents
in
the
name
of
extra-curricular
activities.
He
goes
to
the
extent
of
punishing
the
students
inhumanly
when
the
new,
unjustified
demands
of
the
school
are
not
fulfilled
by
the
parents.
When
Rahul
unifies
the
teachers
[Ayesha
Takia,
Sushant
Singh]
against
the
atrocities
of
school
management,
Principal
Aditya
Sahay
[Nana
Patekar]
defends
the
management
decision.
This
comes
as
a
shocker
to
the
teachers
as
Sahay
is
known
for
his
dedication
as
an
educationist
for
last
32
years,
which
has
built
the
school's
high
reputation.
The
situation
turns
grave
as
the
school
management
becomes
over-ambitious
with
its
growth
and
involves
media
planners
in
the
extra-curricular
activities.
This
demands
the
involvement
of
students
in
TV
reality
shows
and
many
other
media
activities
used
for
building
up
the
school
image
in
public,
which
starts
reflecting
on
the
students'
stress
levels.
The
pressure
on
young
minds
increases
incredibly,
leading
to
unexpected
consequences.
One
of
my
childhood
memories
is
of
a
few
students
being
called
to
the
principal's
office
and
being
reprimanded
for
not
paying
their
school
fees
on
time.
In
another
instance,
I
vividly
recall
a
student
being
made
to
stand
in
scorching
heat,
under
the
blazing
sun,
since
he
was
up
to
some
mischief
all
the
while.
The
barbaric
attitude
was
a
way
of
teaching
the
student
a
lesson.
Paathshaala
brings
back
those
dark
memories
because
the
film
encapsulates
these
two
incidents
on
celluloid.
The
problem
with
the
film
is,
it
gets
very
real
at
times,
but
gets
farcical
as
well.
The
participation
of
kids
in
media
activities
doesn't
have
a
hammer-strong
impact.
The
chilly
portion
and
the
director
capturing
it
on
camera,
or
the
press
photographer
munching
samosa
as
the
kids
get
ready
with
a
pyramid,
looks
unreal,
despite
being
identifiable
incidents.
Even
the
climax
is
confusing.
What
is
Nana
saying
in
the
concluding
reels
lacks
precision.
Director
Milind
Ukey
has
filmed
some
scenes
expertly,
but,
as
mentioned
above,
the
film
lacks
the
power
to
make
you
do
a
serious
introspection.
Hanif
Shaikh's
music
is
strictly
okay.
Nana
is
very
much
in
sync
with
his
character.
Shahid
displays
the
vulnerability
and
helplessness
remarkably.
Ayesha
is
a
complete
natural,
as
always.
Amongst
the
plethora
of
teachers
and
students,
Sushant
Singh
does
well,
Sushmita
Mukherjee
is
serviceable
and
Saurabh
Shukla
is
so
effective,
you
start
hating
him
for
his
repulsive
attitude.
On
the
whole,
Paathshaala
is
a
well-intentioned
film,
but
lacks
clarity
thanks
to
an
uninspiring
screenplay.