Hindi Medium - 2017

Hindi Medium is a 2017 Bollywood comedy-drama film starring the late actor Irrfan Khan and the Pakistani actress Saba Qamar. the film is directed by Saket Chaudhary, written by Saket Chaudhary, Zeenat Lakhani, and Abdul Rafay Chandio, and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Bhushan Kumar. 

Hindi Medium is a Bollywood film that follows the story of a well-off couple, Raj and Mita, who aspire to give their daughter a quality education. However, they struggle to secure her admission to top English-medium schools due to their limited knowledge of the English language and their middle-class background. To overcome this, they pretend to be poor and shift to a slum neighborhood to gain access to a quota reserved for underprivileged students. The film explores the challenges they face in navigating this new world, shedding light on the complexities of the Indian education system and societal prejudices.

This film was a total box office hit with an IMDB rating of 7.8/10 and a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 82%. The movie is available to watch on Prime Video. The movie has even won a number of awards like the Filmfare Awards and IIFA Awards. 

Table Of Content

• Details
• Plot
• Ratings
• Reviews
• Casting
• Crew
• Character Analysis
• Songs
• Controversy
• Behind the Scenes
• Box Office Collection
• Awards
• Interesting Facts

Details 

Plot

Play

Raj Batra (Irrfan Khan) is the successful owner of a clothing boutique in Chandni Chowk where he sells the original designs of well-known fashion designers. His wife Meeta, aka Mithu (Saba Qamar), has been striving hard to angrezify their lifestyle so that their little daughter Pia can enroll in a prestigious English-medium school.

They begin exploring schools for their daughter and decide on The Delhi Grammar School. The best school in the city is Delhi Grammar School, however, to attend, a student must live within three kilometers of the institution. Meeta devises a plan to relocate to Vasant Vihar, an upscale neighborhood in Delhi. Raj finds it extremely difficult to leave his childhood home and relocate to a new area because he has strong emotional ties to Chandni Chowk. However, they relocated to Vasant Vihar for their daughter. 

Unfortunately, it doesn't work out, and their counselor eventually suggests that they apply for the gareeb quota under the RTE (Right to Education Act). They submit applications under the RTE but later on, it is found that the person who helped them with this has been caught and there would be a family check of each applicant to find out whether their application was genuine or not. Eventually, the reasonably prosperous Batras promptly relocated to a slum in Bharat Nagar to 'fake' poverty. They then enroll in poverty lessons from their new neighbor, Shyam Prakash (Deepak Dobriyal), who is blind to the Batras' true intentions and financial situation. Shyam Prakash gets Raj a job as well at his own factory. Both the Batras and Shyam Prakash’s family bond well and love spending time with each other. 

Mohan the son of Shyam Prakash has also applied through the same scheme and is hopeful for admission. When the day of admission comes, Pia gets admitted whereas Mohan's application is rejected. 

The guilt-filled Batras move back to their lavish lifestyle but deep down feel quite hurt by taking away the school seat from those who genuinely deserved it. To do away with their sins they decide to make a donation to a government school where Mohan has been enrolled. Because of their donation, the school gets a 360-degree change. One day Shyam and Tulsi find Mohan reading some text in fluent English, as a result of this they visit the school to thank the teachers. The teachers tell them about the donation made by the Batras. 

When Shyam goes to the donor's home in Vasant Vihar, he learns the truth about Raj's deception in getting Pia into the school by feigning poverty. After learning this, Shyam leaves to inform the principal of Delhi Grammar School.

Raj and Meeta attempt to beat Shyam to Delhi Grammar School but fail. Being the first to arrive, Shyam attempts to locate the principal's office but instead runs into Pia. After sharing an emotional moment with her, Shyam decides not to tell the school, but Raj feels bad about what he did. Raj finally begs the principal to rescind Pia's admission while being truthful, but the principal refuses him. Raj breaks into the Annual Day celebration, speaks about education rights and English in India, and then exits to Meeta's applause alone. Raj and Meeta announce their intention to enroll Pia in the Bharat Nagar Government School so that she can study with Mohan as they leave.

Ratings

Reviews

Hindi Medium received generally positive reviews from both critics and audiences. The movie was praised for its social commentary on the Indian education system, class divide, and obsession with English-language education. Critics and audiences appreciated its attempt to shed light on these issues. The late Irrfan Khan's performance in the lead role received widespread acclaim. His portrayal of Raj, a father trying to navigate the complexities of the education system, was considered one of the film's highlights. Many viewers found Hindi Medium to be a heartwarming and entertaining film. It effectively balanced humor and drama, making it relatable to a wide range of audiences.

The film was commended for its ability to provoke thought and spark conversations about the importance of vernacular education and the societal pressures associated with English-language schooling. Reviewers appreciated the movie's relevance to the Indian context, where securing admission to prestigious English-medium schools is a matter of great concern for parents. Overall, the Hindi Medium was well-received for its social message, performances, and ability to engage viewers in a meaningful discussion about the education system and societal norms in India.

Casting 

Crew

Character Analysis

Irrfan Khan as Raj Batra

Irrfan Khan played the role of Raj Batra in the movie Hindi Medium. his character was widely praised by critics and audiences alike. He brought depth and authenticity to the character, making Raj a relatable and endearing figure. His acting style was often described as natural and unforced, which helped audiences connect with the character on a personal level. Khan effectively showcased a wide emotional range, from moments of humor and lightheartedness to deep-seated frustration and vulnerability, making Raj a well-rounded character. Irrfan Khan's portrayal of Raj Batra as a father who is willing to go to great lengths to secure a better future for his daughter resonated with many viewers, as it captured the anxieties and struggles of middle-class parents in India.  Khan's on-screen chemistry with Saba Qamar, who played his wife in the film, was also praised, contributing to the authenticity of their characters' relationship. He added a touch of subtle humor to the character, which lightened the tone of the film and made it an engaging watch. Irrfan Khan's performance as Raj Batra played a significant role in making Hindi Medium a critically acclaimed and successful film. It showcased his remarkable talent as an actor and further solidified his reputation as one of India's finest actors.

Saba Qamar as Meeta Batra

Saba Qamar played the role of Meeta Batra in the film Hindi Medium. Meeta is a wannabe elite wife who wants to provide the best education to her daughter. Saba Qamar brought authenticity to the character of Meeta Batra, portraying her as a modern, ambitious woman who shares the same concerns and aspirations as her husband. Her on-screen chemistry with Irrfan Khan was notable, creating a realistic and heartfelt depiction of the husband-wife relationship and their shared journey in the film. Saba Qamar effectively conveyed the emotional struggles of Meeta as she grappled with the challenges of their new circumstances and the quest for a quality education for their daughter. She balanced the humorous and dramatic elements of the role, contributing to the film's overall tone and engagement. Saba Qamar's portrayal of Meeta Batra added depth to the film's narrative and provided a strong counterpart to Irrfan Khan's character. Her performance was a key component of the film's success and its ability to resonate with audiences.

Deepak Dobriyal as Shyam Prakash

Deepak Dobriyal Played the role of Shyam Prakash in the movie Hindi Medium. Shyam Prakash is a helpful and humorous character who assists the Batra family in their endeavor to secure admission to a prestigious English-medium school. Deepak Dobriyal is known for his excellent comic timing, and he brought a lighthearted and comedic touch to the character of Shyam Prakash. His humor added levity to the film, making it more entertaining. Shyam Prakash is a likable and good-natured character, and Dobriyal's portrayal made him genuinely endearing to the audience. While the film primarily revolves around the Batra family, Shyam Prakash's character plays a crucial supporting role in their journey, and Deepak Dobriyal's performance in this capacity was well-received. Dobriyal had good chemistry with the main cast, particularly with Irrfan Khan, and their interactions on screen added to the overall charm of the film. Deepak Dobriyal's performance as Shyam Prakash contributed to the film's entertainment value and added a layer of humor and warmth to the narrative. His portrayal was in line with his reputation for delivering strong character performances in Bollywood films.

Songs

Controversy 

Hindi Medium was the target of a copyright lawsuit brought by the producers of the Bengali movie Ramdhanu (2014), which was helmed by the team of Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee. They claimed that the plot of Hindi Medium was the same as that of their film. Saket Chaudhary responded, "We have researched our script for over a year and it is based on original material. I would ask that no one make a decision before all the information is known. Watching the movie makes it simple to verify the facts. Later, Roy and Mukherjee withdrew their lawsuit.

Behind The Scenes

Watch this behind-the-scenes video of the song Suit Suit by Guru RandhawaPlay

Box Office Collection

Awards

Interesting Facts

• Saba Qamar makes her debut in Bollywood through this film Hindi Medium.

• The Movie has a sequel as well named Angrezi Medium. 

• Tyrannosaurus and Stegosaurus are explained to Irrfan's character by a little child. In Jurassic World (2015), Irrfan Khan portrayed Irrfan Khan, the CEO of a corporation that creates dinosaur clones.

• The movie received accolades and brought in over 100 crores at the box office.

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