Almost everyone knows that Hichki is about a teacher named Naina Mathur (Rani Mukherjee) who suffers from Tourette syndrome, but there is so much more to the film than just that. There is a lot more to take home from the film.
Rani, who plays Naina Mathur, a woman with Tourette syndrome, wants to be a teacher much against her father’s wishes. She gets rejected by every school because of her condition but doesn’t give up and finally lands a job as a teacher at her alma mater! However, even there she has a huge challenge to face, she is given a class of 14 rowdies to handle! These 14 students are unlike the rest of the elite students of this elite school, these 14 have been admitted to the school as per the special government quota and are a misfit in the school. The whole film is about how Naina Mathur transforms these 14 children from misfits to becoming winners. You might say that’s predictable but it’s the way the bond between the teacher and these students have been shown that makes the film very different and heartwarming and actually makes your eyes moist in so many of the scenes.
Rani as Naina Mathur is a teacher every student would love to have! She has played her part beautifully and she not only introduces us to Tourette syndrome without making it look artificial but she also walks us through her challenges in the most interesting way. Which is not surprising knowing Rani’s caliber as an actor, she is one of the most versatile and gifted actors. She enacts the frustration of a person suffering from a syndrome like Tourette brilliantly and she makes it look so real. She shows us how exactly it feels to live with Tourette. She even makes the boring life of a teacher look interesting. Honestly, this is the first time I really wished I had been a teacher! That’s not, Rani takes us back to school and reminds us of that one favorite teacher in school, I am sure we all had.
Supriya and Sachin Pilgaonkars play Rani’s parents in the film, while Hussain Dalal plays Rani’s supportive younger brother. There are many sweet family moments between Supriya, Rani, and Hussain. While Sachin as an unsupportive father is not very convincing, maybe because he has too kind a face for a role like that! However, there is a warm father-daughter moment in the film that touches the heart.Neeraj Kabi as the teacher who challenges Rani and her students, the 14 child actors who play the underdogs have all done a great job.
Yes there were a few who walked out of the theater saying the film is predictable, I agree there are a few flaws in the film but not everyone is brave enough to make a film on an otherwise unconventional subject and speak out and make people aware of issues like the Tourette syndrome and our education system, discrimination among students in schools etc. Yet not make it look preachy and you walk out of the theater feeling good!
Hichki is a movie every school, every principal, teacher, student, and parent must watch! Better still, go watch it with your favorite teacher!
Read Also: Rani Mukherjee’s Character In Hichki Inspired By Her School Teachers
