Indian movie ‘Hichki’ perfectly balances fun and feels: Rani Mukerji scores top marks as teacher with Tourette Syndrome [Review]
In this moving Bollywood blockbuster, Rani Mukerji perfectly plays the role of a teacher who always puts her students first
The Indian Hindi comedy drama Hichki centres on the life of Naina Mathur (Rani Mukerji), a woman with aspirations to be a teacher. However, she suffers from Tourette Syndrome, which is a neurological disorder which induces sudden and involuntary movements and vocal outbursts known as tics.
For years, Naina’s condition prevents her from landing her dream job, but she’s eventually offered a teaching position at the prestigious St. Notker’s School. The class she’s assigned to is known to be a bunch of troublemakers. Undeterred, Naina makes it her personal mission to bolster their self-esteem, motivate them to learn, and help the students unlock their full potential.
Mukerji’s acting is flawless – she perfectly plays the role of a woman who refuses to let her problems get in the way of teaching.
The younger actors are just as good, and they all give energetic, heart-warming, and hilarious performances. This fun, moving Bollywood blockbuster admirably takes on the mammoth task of challenging the misconceptions that surround Tourette’s, and highlights the lasting impact a teacher can make on their student’s lives at the same time.
Despite a few predictable moments, Hichki is, on the whole, a highly relatable and soul-stirring watch.
Edited by Nicole Moraleda