Paathshala is Anil Dhirubhai Ambani's production house Big Pictures debut film. Shahid kapoor and Ayesha takia starring Paathshala shows the actor in a completely different look. The main focus of the film is on the Indian Education system and its management. Though it has a very interesting and fruitful concept but it lacked the clarity and perfection. But the film leaves a very good impression and delivers a very good message. A new English teacher named Rahul Prakash Udyavar (Shahid Kapoor) takes admission in Saraswati Vidya Mandir School. Everything goes well until Rahul finds out that there is lot going wrong in the school. As the manager of the school Mr. Sharma (Saurabh Shukla) in the name of extracurricular activities extorts money from the parents. And the students are treated unethically and punished when these demands are not fulfilled. Rahul who is trying to bring change in the system brings out other teachers (Ayesha Takia, Sushant Singh, Kurush Deboo) to fight for these illegal activities. But this action by the teachers is not accepted by the principal Aditya Sahay (Nana Patekar). Later the situation takes a worse turn when the students are forced to participate in the TV reality shows and other media PR activities. Therefore this is the journey of the teachers and the student to escape from the unjustified demands of the school and the overstress. Shahid Kapoor got a completely different role to play in this film. He as a school teacher maintained a good balance between drama, emotions, tragedy, professionalism and comedy. Ayesha takia was good enough for her role and even Nana Patekar's acting was balanced. Child artist Swini Khare, Ali Haji, Dwij Yadav and Avika Gor added to the comic side of it. Coming to the music, Hanif Shaikh and Shaira Khan could not create much of magic with it. Though it has been directed by the award winning Marathi director, Milind Ukey but the film could not reach the perfection level as that of Taare Zameen Par, which had the same concept focussing on the Education System. Undoubtedly the movie is worth appreciating for it’s over stress on the commercialization of the contemporary education system. It has successfully brought some of the very important issues like pressure on the students and the bad effect of the reality shows on the kids. This film will surely work as an eye opener for all the parents. Overall nice movie.
