|
Director:
Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, Deepika
Padukone and Prateik
Direction: Prakash Jha
Here is a high voltage drama based on one of the most
controversial policies of caste based reservations in
government jobs and educational institutions.
Aarakshan is the hindi word for ‘Reservation’. In India
there is a caste based reservation of jobs in government
and educational institutions. Prakash Jha, the director
has presented complex social and economic issues in a
very simple format.
It is the story of Prabhakar Anand (Amitabh Bachchan),
the legendary idealistic principal of a college that he
has single-handedly turned into the state’s best. His
loyal disciple, Deepak Kumar (Saif Ali Khan) who will do
anything for his Sir. Of Deepak’s love for Prabhakar’s
daughter, Poorbi (Deepika Padukone), of his friendship
with Sushant (Prateik).
Dr Prabhakar Anand notices that Mithilesh, instead of
dutifully taking lectures in college, gives his time to his private coaching
class, which is immediately disapproved by Dr Prabhakar Anand.
So, this wily professor Mithilesh plans to out Dr Anand from the college. On
one occasion, Mithilesh on his own, calls the police during an admission
session, which brings the college in bad light.
Mithilesh rakes up the controversial issue of reservation of seats on caste
based system to bring in trouble for Dr Prabhakar Anand, while on the other
hand he sees his private coaching classes expand.
|
It is the story of... their love, their lively friendship,
their zest for life, and of their dreams for the future.
Dr Prabhakar Anand is the principal of the renowned STM
college where Deepak Kumar has an interim job as a teacher
at the college. Deepak has a girlfriend Poorbi, who is Dr
Prabhakar Anand 's daughter.
The upright and frank principal faces dirty politics when
Professor Mithilesh Singh (Manoj Bajpai) comes on the
College board. Mithilesh, who is recommended by the state
minister Baburam, is a cunning and a wily person who seeks
only to enrich himself by running a private coaching
class, KK Coaching, outside the college. The minister has
a stake in this coaching class, which has plans to expand
rapidly.
The backward classes welcome reservations as it provides
opportunities for education and upliftment of their social
status. Whereas the upper classes are against reservations
since they believe in a level-playing field.
Mithilesh is successful in his devilish plan and gets Dr
Anand involved in a controversial issue and gets the
principal ousted from the college.
An interesting twist here, instead of succumbing to
pressure, Dr Prabhakar Anand begins from scratch, coaches
students without any fees in a tabela compound. He is
supported by Deepak and Sushant. The second half loses
pace and at times it drags.
Amitabh Bachchan is outstanding, Manoj Bajpayee gives a
powerful performance. The brigade of Deepika, Saif and
Prateik are just fine and apt. Superb dialogues and the
first half is just awesome. It is a story of high drama,
conflict, and rebellion, which tests love and friendship
among the youth and their loyalty for the sincere and
straightforward principal.
-
Aniz Filmvala |
|
Credits &
Crew:
Studio Prakash Jha Productions
Directed By Prakash Jha
Written By Prakash Jha & Anjum Rajabali
Screenplay By Prakash Jha & Anjum Rajabali
Produced By Prakash Jha Productions
Music - Shankar Ehsaan Loy
Director of Photography - Sachin Krishn
Editor - Santosh Mandal
Art Director - Jayant Deshmukh
Costume Designer - Priyanka Mundada
Action Director - Prem Sharma
Production Controller - Sudhirbhai Mishra
General Manager, Productions - K.L. Chhabra
Lyrics - Prasoon Joshi
Choreographer - Jayesh Pradhan
Background Music - Wayne Sharpe |
Cast:
Prabhakar Anand - Amitabh Bachchan
Deepak Kumar - Saif Ali Khan
Mithilesh Singh - Manoj Bajpai
Poorvi - Deepika Padukone
Sushant Seth – Prateik
Kavita Prabhakar Anand - Tanvi Azmi
Mantri Baburao - Saurabh Shukla
Anirudh Chaudhary - Darshan Jariwala
Shambhu Yadav - Yashpal Sharma
Police Inspector - Mukesh Tiwari
Damodar - Rajeev Verma
Retired Professor - S.M. Zaheer
Neta Bhishamber - Vinay Apte
Mrs. Kantaprasad - Anita Kanwar
Special Appearance – Hema Malini
Chetan Pandit
|
