Rani passes with flying colours

Nonika Singh

You instantly warm up to Naina Mathur (Rani Mukerji), the woman with Tourette syndrome, which simply put means a kind of speech disability but is actually a neurological disorder. Her childhood avatar, shunted from one school to another, makes you teary-eyed. But Rani Mukerji’s Hichki isn't just about her obvious affliction, her difficult relationship with her father (Sachin Pilgaonkar) and her strong desire to be a teacher.  

Based on Brad Cohen’s personal journey as encapsulated in his book Front of the Class, it deals with a much larger issue. Right to Education… indeed, this isn’t the first time a Bollywood film has forayed to look into the problematic yet well meaning RTE Act in the eye. Hindi Medium did it in a rather effective and engaging manner. But while the Irrfan Khan- starrer dwelt upon the issue at hand more at the admission level, Hichki goes beyond and peeps inside the school.

How tough it is for the children who come from underprivileged background to integrate themselves and find their place not just under the sun but in the school environs where rich and privileged study. What is the true meaning of equality of opportunity in public schools where students from affluent backgrounds instead of rubbing shoulders with their poor counterparts rub in their exalted status? 

Without a doubt, Hichki is a socially correct film with a heavy duty conscience making all the right noises. Only, it’s not just a shout out for all the right things but has a huge thumping heart too. Be it Naina’s strange predicament or the unenviable plight of her class Nine F, the narrative goes all out for your tear ducts. Much of what is portrayed in the process is not exactly a revelation.  

Yet, despite the predictability of it all, it does manage to move your heart; all thanks to Rani’s etching of Naina. Indeed, teachers like Naina are a rare breed and we are not talking her disability here, but her undying resolve and unmatched zeal. However, as success stories of hundreds of boys and girls coming up trumps against all odds do establish; nothing is impossible. Hichki hinges on exactly the same mantra. 

Naina’s handicap is only a mirror reflection of the obstacles that we all face at different levels. Even non-acceptance of the reality other than our own is a hichki. Neeraj Kabi’s character as a dogmatic educator who believes excellence can’t be fun and dubs Class IX F as municipal garbage is an example of the cobwebs that cloud our mind and dispels clear vision. Kabi as the science teacher taking immense pride in his bright students and equally scornful of the disadvantaged nalayaks delivers impeccably and in the most restrained manner.  

He is a perfect foil to Naina’s unorthodox ways of dealing with and teaching her students. Rani’s performance , however, is undisputedly sans hiccups as she masters the hiccups so naturally and beautifully. So perfect is she that she lends a new meaning to normal, especially when she tells her father; this is my normal. 

As we walk out of the theatre with a happy heart, our only quibble is; oh Rani where were you all this time? Please don’t take a hiatus anymore. Motherhood or no motherhood, you are too good to be missing for too long. As for you dear viewer if you care to be inspired by a feel-good story and don’t care much about the other trivialities that Bollywood presents in the name of entertainment, there is no reason to miss this Hichki. Seamlessly, even if conveniently bound together, it raises more than a pertinent concern.

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