Robin Bhuyan
Although our education system has faced a lot of criticism, especially in the last decade, due to being inefficient and impractical, as well as being overly commercialized, there is not much that can be done, as all of us have fallen victim to it. There are however multiple movies, through which filmmakers have tried to shed light on the faults of the education system, and here we are going to take a look at some of them.
5. Aarakshan 
From its name, you might think that the film just explores the topic of caste-based reservation in the education system. Yes, the film does indeed try to provide us with an unbiased perspective on this sensitive issue. But the film focuses mostly on how modern education has been hugely commercialized. The film focuses on how education can be provided to everyone, regardless of their social or financial status. Veteran film director Prakash Jha does a brilliant job of giving us an engaging story, with a strong social message. Despite having well-known actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Manoj Bajpai and Deepika Padukone, the film performed average at the box office.
4. FALTU
Directed by Remo D’Souza and written by Tushar Hiranandani, F.A.L.T.U. addresses the flaws and inefficiencies of the education system with a comedic approach. Unfortunately, despite its brilliant concept and having several well-known actors such as Arshad Warshi and Riteish Deshmukh, the film didn’t receive much recognition. The film tells the story of a group of underachieving friends who decide to create a fake university Fakirchand and Lakirchand Trust University (F.A.L.T.U.), in order to make their parents happy. The film gives a strong message regarding the education system, and how we can fix them. Despite this, unfortunately, the movie didn’t receive the popularity it deserved. Maybe it was way ahead of its time!
3. Taare Zameen Par
Released in 2007, Taare Zameen Par is a movie that had received widespread appreciation upon its release. With Darsheel Safary in his debut as the lead character, the film was also Aamir Khan’s directorial debut. The film revolves around a dyslexic child, who is struggling within the confines of the education system. He is presumed to be dumb by those around him, and nobody tries to understand his actual problem. Along with showing the challenges of the standardized approach to education in India, the film focuses on the importance of recognizing individual talent.
2. Hindi Medium
Directed by Saket Chaudhary, Hindi Medium is a brilliant film that offers a commentary on the disparities between English and vernacular medium education in India. The film revolves around Raj Batra, played by the talented Irfan Khan, and his wife Meeta, played by Saba Qamar, who tries to secure admission for their daughter in a prestigious English medium school. They get desperate, fearing that getting her admitted in a Hindi medium school would affect their social status in the future. The film does an excellent job of exposing the elitism and inequalities of the Indian education system, and at the same time, it shows the struggles that middle-class families go through, hoping to secure education for their children.
1. 3 Idiots
And on top of our list, we have 3 Idiots, as you probably expected! Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the film stars Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi and Omi Vaidya, in the lead roles. The film shows us the stories of three friends, from different social and economic backgrounds, as they try to navigate their way through ICE- Imperial College of Engineering, a fictional engineering college. Through wit and humor, the film brilliantly exposes several aspects of the education system such as focus on marks and rote learning rather than actual learning, as well as the narrow definition of success. The film also shows how parental expectations force children to pursue a career they have no interest in, eventually ruining their lives as well as their happiness. The film was a huge success at the box office, won numerous awards, and went on to receive a cult status. It is not just the best film on the education system, the film is also considered among the best films ever made in Indian cinema.
