Hichki is worthy to watch once due to Rani Mukerji’s stellar performance and freshness in concept. !!

Film Hichki comes with a lot of promises. Hichki feels more like To Sir With Love despite being an official adaptation of Front of the Class (which in turn was based on Brad Cohen’s book Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had). It is an interesting plot at the core, in which a leading lady who has proven her mettle for over two decades. Film looked different for sure but one still wondered if there would be sufficient entertainment quotient in there that would attract audiences by the dozen. A teacher can be a mentor, a guide and in rare cases, even a friend. Hichki is the story of one such teacher. What makes Naina (Rani Mukerji) different from other teachers is her Tourette Syndrome. She makes hics and click noises due to a neurological disorder that she explains with spirit and wit. She fights the odds – reactions to her own unsettling, hiccup-powered speech as well as her class of 14 scoundrels who mock her at every turn.

 

As per story, Naina Mathur (Rani Mukerji) is an ambitious teacher who suffers from Tourette Syndrome. After numerous interviews and frequent rejections, she lands her dream job as a full-time teacher in a leading school. The class she has been assigned though comprises of defiant and impish students who can’t seem to keep out of trouble. Naina overcomes all challenges to help her students realise their true potential.

 

You don't really feel overtly thrilled about what actually plays on screen, the biggest factor being predictability that looms large right through the two hour story. But, director Sidharth P. Malhotra chooses to keep his story telling simple for the whole duration and hence the kind of drama or conflict that you expect is somehow missing. The use of out-of-the-box learning tools within the school environment adds to the film. The director does a good job at crafting and presenting the movie. Unhappily, the screenplay doesn’t quite cut it for top grades. The first half is spent setting up the story, while the second half heightens the drama but doesn’t change too several gears. Hichki is a movie full of emotions, but they just don’t hit the right arc, especially during the climactic portions.

 

Rani Mukerji’s act is remarkable. She’s reliable with the Tourette Syndrome and she makes moments of high drama look unquestionably natural. Her performance adds the proverbial punch to this story. Young actors (all students) do a wonderful job. Harsh Mayar as Aatish is superb. Neeraj Kabi, who essays the stern science teacher Wadia, is remarkable as well. The music by Jasleen Royal is supporting.

 

With a strongly-worded script, equal parts melodrama and equal parts realism, Hichki is full of heart and soul. It does tend to become preachy at certain points and perhaps there is a little too much drama at too several points through the film.

 

Hichki had the potential to be more than just a classroom saga. The movie has plenty of freshness, insights and emotional intelligence.

 

Overall, it is worthy to watch once due to Rani Mukerji’s stellar performance and freshness in concept.