REVIEW OF "AARAKSHAN"

Saw 'Aarakshan' recently in the theatre. I liked the movie and thought of sharing my view with my FB friends. Prakash Jha has become one of my favourite directors. His films are always issue based and they always raise a debate once you leave the cinema hall. "Aarakshan" is a well-crafted movie, which is trying to explore an answer to reservation. I read so many reviews on this movie and most of them said that it is a pro-educationist movie and Prakash Jha has cleverly written the story and used reservation for its commercial purpose. I don't see the film in that light. I felt he has very much and honestly handled the subject of reservation and tried to give an answer to it. It may not be a straight answer because the issue in itself is very complicated. Looking at India's political scenario, one cannot think of giving a straight solution to the problem. All that he is saying is that because of reservation the difference between the haves and have-nots is widening. If we are uplifting the poor by giving them reservation, we are also depriving genuine candidates who are meritorious. So why not try to educate the poor, and give them the same opportunities by opening up free coaching or free remedial classes where weak and poor students can be trained and then face the competition as everyone else. Till then maybe reservation is the only way to uplift them.

People and critics are saying that the film has targeted coaching classes but while watching the movie you have to understand the hidden message as well. I thought the message was intelligent, simple and motivating. He has raised a debate and given a simple solution to reservation - prepare every child with the same facility and then treat them equal. I definitely will recommend everyone to watch this movie in the theatre. Everyone acted very well and made it very convincing and honest. It is true and sad to see how honest people always have to pay a heavy price for fighting the battle but history is full of these examples.  We believe that one day "truth will win" (सत्यमेव जयते )

Another sad part is that in India, every aspect of life is so politicized, that even cinema is now becoming the victim of it. Mayavati has again played politics and has banned the movie in UP, though there is nothing derogatory in this movie which would have hurt anyone's sentiment. Never once have the actors in the movie used the word backward, SC/ST or OBC. All they said was "samridh" and "garib". Our politicians are nothing but ignorant and an illiterate bunch of fools.

Wishing all the best to Prakash Jha for making this film not only entertaining but also educational.