SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

ChanBot i must have seen a different film!!

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Jaspreet Singh Equality of education can not be based only on merit basis. If India was a developed nation, or if there were basic facilities for all, then a little help (quota) would't have required.I loved "Taare Zameen Par" and this "Aarakshan", both movies deal with society issues relating to education.Superb direction, some serious dialogues of Amitabh - Saif, and Deepika - Saif which shows reality of India and class perspectives.I am not sure why people gave poor rating to this movie. Movie Script helps in exploring Supreme court order and Constitutional values with a drama which is superbly directed and scripted.

Tejas Nair Prakash Jha is one filmmaker who doesn't mind taking controversial topics & this time too he has succeeded in adapting a relevant topic on screen.Amitabh Bachchan & Manoj Bajpai are terrific with their characters & portrayals. Deepkia Padukone & Saif Ali Khan add to the fervor. Supporting cast supports well. I am mesmerized by the intuitive fast- paced screenplay for a drama without cutting the lines short. Music is apt & there is no single moment where it attenuates. With all the college atmosphere & the grave state of education system in India just makes it too interesting.Personally, I enjoyed the whole movie which also is emotional, dramatic, romantic & lovable at times. Except for the foggy climax & the feeble conclusive plot lines, I rate it a good 8.4 out of 10.BOTTOM LINE: Highly Recommended to youngsters & adults alike if they are looking for an answer on the education system in India. Not that it answers brightly, but you will enjoy for sure.Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YESProfanity: Mild | Sex/Nudity/Porn/Smoking/Alcohol: No | Violence: Strong | Gore: No

kunalkhandwala Prakash Jha's films are a social media themselves. With a grave look at each of society's controversial attributes, we understand the ethical and moral implications through a dedicated vision that Jha has so meticulously brought to life. Occasionally, he sets the bar so high, that it is difficult even for him to fulfill the audience's quest for enlightenment. In pursuit of modernization and development, the Indian Government passed many bills. Among the most debated and relevant was the one that allocated higher reservations for backward castes and tribes for admission into colleges. Jha's take on the Aarakshan scenario deals with the fundamental gain for backward classes, the challenges for the rest of society, the impact on the educational system and the dilemma for an idealist principal of a renowned college in choosing sides. You are either for Aarakshan, or you are against it. The idealist Principal behind the most renowned college, Prabhakar Anand (Amitabh Bachchan) has established order with strict codes that nurture students through dedicated professors while maintaining high disciplinary standards. Eager minutes pass by till we witness the typical intensity of a Prakash Jha film when the Supreme Court declares the higher reservation standards for backward castes in educational institutions. Clear lines are drawn between those who support it and those who see it as a threat to the system. The principal's apprentice, Deepak Kumar (Saif Ali Khan), is a dalit, who takes a stand to speak out against those who humiliate backward castes over the subject of Aarakshan. Confronted by Professor Mithilesh Singh (Manoj Bajpai) and his own friend Sushant (Prateik Babbar), Deepak finds few supporters who see his viewpoint. He parts ways with his girlfriend Poorvi (Deepika Padukone) and his Principal to seek other opportunities. This is the point where Jha's Aarakshan deviates from the subject and takes an altogether new course; that of commercial coaching classes that adversely affect the conventional education system. Much of the story thereafter revolves around Prabhakar Anand's fight to survival against Mithilesh Singh's coaching academy through free communal teaching. The criticality of Aarakshan as the subject is now on the back-burner and through much of the film's second half, it's the battle between the two educational spheres and their mentors. The film's strongest points remain with the subject of Aarakshan itself. The confrontations involving Saif Khan, Manoj Bajpai and Amitabh Bachchan are not only intense but thought provoking as well. This is when the three actors emerge in their best forms with realistic arguments and stand-points over the topic. As Prabhakar Anand dedicates long hours to his free tutoring sessions, we begin to understand the relevance of supportive education and its wicked sister, the commercialized coaching classes. The theme promoted in the previews is 'India v/s India' but the two sides here are those who support Prabhakar Anand and those who support Mithilesh Singh. The controversial quotas are already forgotten....Deepika Padukone is a complete waste if she isn't dancing to Dumb Maaro Dumb. She simply cannot act. Year after year of good opportunities have yet to unravel an actress in her but we might never see that come true. Prateik Babbar's future looks grey.... his voice might just be his bane apart from the look of helplessness that's his trademark. Saif Ali Khan has done a very good job in a shorter than expected role but that's because Manoj Bajpai and Amitabh Bachchan fight it out through most of the second half of the film themselves. Bajpai has truly enjoyed playing the negative character which he does so exceedingly well. Amitabh Bachchan carries the burden of a weak screenplay upon his shoulders and provides the sincerity, determination and patience that we see in Prabhakar Anand's character. Shankar Ehsaan Loy's music is forgettable with just 'Achcha lagta hai' and 'Roshni' being the top picks in the album. The dialogues are nowhere near the standards set in 'Raajneeti' but they do stir emotions during the confrontational scenes. Background music, art direction and cinematography seem a little below par for a Prakash Jha film but what you do take back, are the performances.Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj Bajpai and Saif Ali Khan make this film watchable. After 'Gangajal', 'Apaharan' and 'Raajneeti', Prakash Jha's take on reservations promoting social equality leaves more to be desired. Aarakshan doesn't take sides, doesn't indulge in portraying the fallacies or benefits of the reservation system, nor does it provide a pragmatic alternative. One cannot spend 20 hours a day in providing free tutoring when they have a household to take care of. It is a desirable idea but far too unreal and too good to be practical. There is a lingering disbelief of Aarakshan being a true Prakash Jha film. It tries to be one, but the inconsistencies and deviations spur whatever disappointment one might experience or perhaps, the bar was set too high the last time we witnessed a political gameplay. 7.761 on a scale of 1-10.

priya_mann Idealistic, traditionalistic, wannabe appealing to the urbanized segment of Indian society. Amitabh Bacchan is just the principal that every school would dream of. A perfectly lovely family (wife/ daughter) and home. An extremely caring daughter and wife. To top it all, a fan following in society based on his passion and sincerity for education. But perfect pictures don't remain so and thus the devil plays his role. Lewd, unworthy and unreal talking on part of students, colleagues, politicians etc. Felt a little unreal a God few days back, Amitabh is being cussed, cursed and abused even by his own students. The Knight in shining armor- Saif comes to salvage the situation. There is a lot of crude talking in the movie. I feel the stance of the wife is a little unrealistic- having lost everything because of her husband, she is always beaming, gleaming and peacefully by his side. Thus human emotions have been put aside to build quite the ideal image. As and when a movie does get to be so, I lose interest because it stops feeling like real or something I could relate to. The Plot can be divided in 3 parts: Plot 1: All is well. Hunky dory. Lovely family, lovely house, good relationships, respect and repute Plot 2: All that could possibly go down does go down. But Amitabh with his ideals keeps persisting in life. Never failing to show up Plot 3: Starts to build on his respect and reliability once again. The movie ends not showing that a man could change the world with his ideals. It shows a powerful woman (Hema Malini) pulling a few strings and thus being able to get Amitabh his lost esteem, repute and credibility. So the role of politicians is still shown as being stronger and just by luck if you know the biggest fish, things do tend to go your way. The students didn't feel educated. I liked the general ambiance of their home. I liked the ability to mobilize people. India's strength is it's people. The film quite powerfully shows the strength of people. This movie also is indicative to people movements and how involvement of the common man can steer decision making. People strength and publicity are the only two things Indian politicians fear as on date.