Rating: na Banner: Vanmali Films Producer: Nitin Mavani Director: Mansingh Pawar Music: Vabhru BHosale Cast: Sandeep Kulkarni, Prasad Pandit, Deepa Chaphekar, Shrikant Yadav Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

At a time when Municipal authorities in Mumbai are in the process of closing down Marathi schools for want of attendance and unable to maintain the premises; here comes a film with a timely message to the Government. The new Marathi film ‘Night School’ produced by Nitin Mawani and directed by Mansingh Pawar makes the administration realize the importance of education to the labour and poor class, who are unable to attend day classes. The film stresses the importance about survival of one such night school in Mumbai, which needs Government support and which is the target of builders to acquire the land occupied by school for redevelopment project.

45 years ago there was an English film ‘To Sir, With Love’ by E. R. Braithwaite, starring Sidney Poitier which dealt with social and racial issues in an inner city school. In that film, the teacher takes up the challenge to educate the notorious and elderly students from one secondary school. Now, writer director Mansingh Pawar has taken up a similar type of social issue in his new Marathi film ‘Night School’ which is so relevant to Indian context, where education plays an important role in uplifting the society.

In India, so many youngsters are required to leave their school mid way, due to poor financial conditions. They work during daytime as Courier boys or labourers in Hotels, shops and restaurants; but, there is a desire within them to take education side by side. Inspired by the two former chief ministers of Maharashtra, who attended Night school and reached to this position; the director has taken up this issue of one of the Night Schools in Mumbai. There is a mention about this reality in one of the dialogues uttered by an important character in the film. Shivaji Night School shown in the film located in the populated area of Mumbai, is on the verge of closure. Appasaheb (played by Prasad Pandit) whose father started this 60 year old institution, is managing this school with great difficulty.

During a ceremony to honour best teachers in the city; Appasaheb challenges Mr. Deshpande (Sandeep Kulkarni) who has bagged best teacher’s award for getting 100% results of his 10th std batch. “If you really have to prove your capability as a teacher show 100% results of a school which has working and poor class students?” he questions. Mr. Deshpande does accept Appasaheb’s challenge and joins his Shivaji Night School.

After joining the school, Mr. Deshpande prepares his action plan and ensures 100% attendance in school. He himself approaches families of many students and understands individual problems of each one of them. He also offers shelter to one of the poor students in his own house. Mr. Deshpande’s strategies works wonders, in spite of facing hurdles. He encourages sports and picnics. Finally, it is happy ending with Shivaji Night School scoring 100% results with a topper in Maths in Board Exam from his school.

Director Mansingh Pawar has presented the subject very well, with total sincerity, without adding unnecessary glamour into the screenplay. There are only two songs in the film on the music of Babhu Bhosale, that too before interval. The post interval session has been focused on the struggle for survival of the school. In fact 25 out of the 40 students from this film are real life Night School students, making an impact about the actual situation. However, the scene showing the serious ailment of one of the bright students from the school, has been dragged a little longer, with repeated shots of his vomiting and writing exam paper in ambulance.

Otherwise, the sequences like Mr. Deshpande offering shelter to a deserving student, his subsequent interaction with his wife, his strategies to bring students together and his efforts of creating awareness about importance of education to the family members of the students; and above all the students raising the money to pay electricity bill of the school, have been picturised well.

Sandeep Kulkarni is at his best in the role of Deshpande teacher, showing total commitment to his character. He seemed to be totally involved into this challenging role, offered to him. Deepa Chaphekar, who plays his wife doesn’t have much scope; but she does her job well. In the role of Appasaheb, veteran actor Prasad Pandit is a perfect choice. Shrikant Yadav is impressive in the role of a notorious bar owner, who later reforms, watching the struggle of the students. All others in the supporting cast have done a good job. The film is a timely message to the Government.