Hindi Medium Movie Review: A ‘Class’ Act

Irrfan Khan, mostly known for his edgy and intense performances, made us fall in love with him for his comic timing in Shoojit Sircar's Piku and the man is back to do the same again with his next Hindi Medium, which releases this weekend. Directed by Saket Chaudhary, Hindi Medium, a film about India's obsession with the English language, is the story of Raj Batra (Khan) and his wife Meeta (Saba Qamar), a couple from Chandni Chowk, who want their daughter to study in a 'posh' school. When Raj and Meeta decide to get their daughter in one of the elite schools of South Delhi, their decision leads to a series to hilarious consequences as the family shifts to Vasant Vihar to be a part of the 'class crowd' and then to a humble home in order to get their daughter in the school through a quote reserved for the have-nots. How the couple manages to do this is what the film is all about. Khan, who has a poker-faced sense of humour, is too good in the film and it's a sheer delight to watch him as the Chandni Chowk ka 'jugaadu' businessman, who will lie, bribe, cheat and do whatever it takes to ensure that his daughter gets the best education possible. Pakistani actress Saba, who makes her Bollywood debut with this film, is refreshing and has a decent sense of humour. The two actors have a great chemistry and their banter is one of the highlights of the film. Deepak Dobriyal has a short role, but the man nevertheless manages to make you guffaw and bring a lump to your throat with effortless ease. Tillotma Shome and Amrita Singh, who too have short roles, manage to shine with their performances. As for the film, the first half is genuinely funny and manages to send across a message about our obsession with the English language without being too preachy about it. Serving a serious issue with a dose of humour is always a tricky affair, but Saket has managed to get his point across with admirable aplomb. However, on the flip side, the second half gets slightly melodramatic, clichéd and predictable, not to mention simplistic. The director's indirect hint that 'all poor people are noble and all rich people are shallow' is a bit too black and white for our tastes. Also, the songs of the film are quite average and do not offer much. But the film does have its heart in the right place and so it is easy to forgive such flaws. In conclusion, Hindi Medium is a thoroughly enjoyable watch, especially if you enjoy satire.