HicHki

*ing: Rani Mukherji

Rated: 7/10

Rani Mukherji has matured, does not shy away from being less than ordinary or dressing down, shows up her acting talent with aplomb and dominates this finely made film from the first to the last frame.

After a break from films, marriage and motherhood, Rani uses this home production to the hilt to make a mark as a rare tourettes syndrome patient who takes life by the scruff of the collar despite rejections both by society and her father.

The very fact that the movie is titled Hichki shows how little we know of this rare disorder which is a vocal reaction to some electrical waves mismatching in the brain, and not at all about stammering.  She plays out this affliction with gumption. Showcasing the struggle of Rani to follow her dream of becoming a teacher despite all the scepticism around her affliction, this film with no hero or singing and dancing props, goes in the right direction of a good teacher beset with a batch of bad students battling scorn, comparison and realities of a slum existence in an elite school where they are segregated into a separate section.

They are there only because of the Government’s Right to Education Act, these mischief mongers are significantly relegated to section ‘F’ which, in popular, perception translates into the most obvious tag – that of being failures.

Till, of course, they get a tourettes syndrome teacher (she is hired only because it is a necessity with the regular teacher leaving mid-session) who takes it upon herself to transform them into achievers through unconventional teaching methods, scepticism of fellow teachers and the principal and, of course, the impossible management of this bunch of incorrigibles.

There is a lot of emotion she weaves into this simple but engaging film involving the viewers in the goings-on which are naturally and beautifully projected. The slum children are characterised well, as are the elite ones, and add to the film as does the side story of Rani’s personal life.

A good film, made simply and lovingly. Must-see for some old world emotionalism.

Source: Sunday Pioneer, 25 March, 2018