Hindi Medium: A delightful mirror to society

Cast: Irrfan, Saba Qamar, Deepak Dobriyal, Dishita Sehgal

Rated: 8/10

Hindi Medium is cutting edge axe that falls on our pretentious society at more levels than one. It tells you of our complete and collective mental subjugation to everything British despite more than five decades of Independence; it shows up the nursery school admission mess that reins the Capital; it lifts the veil on deceitful school owners and their limitless corruption; it laments the decrepit state of the Government schools where talent goes awry due to lack of faculty, interest and infrastructure. Last but not least, it is a stinging slap on our skewed education system which needs an urgent overhaul.

And this long awaited axe is borne delightfully by none less than Irrfan who lives the role of a well-heeled Chandni Chowk shop-owner who may own a BMW but is below the poverty line when it comes to speaking English with utmost realism.

As a film, it is beautifully executed by director Saket Chaudhary; as a satire it stings you hard; as a lament on the urban state of affairs, it makes you cry; as a gentle humour thing, it makes you laugh. Irrfan strings along all these emotions with the seasoned approach of an arrived method actor and so holds forth in the film.

His wife, played by Pakistani actress Saba Qamar, is a befitting counterfoil. He wears his heart on his sleeve, she is a walking-talking poster of international brand; he has no problems with his non-English, Purani Dilli upbringing; she needs Vasant Vihar, swish parties and the best “English Medium” school in the Capital.

Deceit, treachery, regret, aspiration, inspiration — everything is there but in a gentle mould and that’s the reason why Hindi Medium is a pleasurable, refreshing and engaging film to be with. All characters are duly fleshed out, including the poor but rich at heart Deepak Dobriyal whose son’s BPL seat Irrfan grabs for his daughter by deceit.

Amrita Singh, as the strict and principled principal of the Indian School where getting an admission is as difficult as not wanting to get one, does a good job with steel and stealth in one go.

But the film goes much beyond these characters and their excellence. It shows us a mirror to our societal default without screaming or shouting. It merely tells us how deeply entrenched in this trap we are, without protesting, without questioning and without mostly minding it.

Only once in a while, such content comes out of Bollywood and that’s why Hindi Medium is one film you and your children should watch — and learn from.

Source: Sunday Pioneer, 21 May, 2017