HOSHIAR SINGH (Apna Arastu), Punjabi REVIEW
MELBOURNE, 6 February, 2025: Hoshiar Singh (Punjabi) is a rather rare Punjabi movie scrutinising the decayed and dysfunctional education system system and a young teacher's (Satinder Sartaj) struggle and steps to reform it with innovative ways. As a child he is denied what he thinks as he is too questioning, irritating elders and teachers. He becomes a village school teacher and is confronted by a outdated and corrupt education system. His actions are resented by the school Principal and staff as challenging as things are working. He is told not to try to change the system, instead change himself and be a part of it. He faces all sorts of hurdles for his innovative teaching steps, uniting the school admin and local District Officer (DO) against him. He is suspended from his job, but bounces back and starts implementing his way of engaging students. In-between he has a romance with one of the teachers, who supports him in his endeavour.
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There is lot of sniping at the corrupt education system and the discrimination faced by government schools compared to private schools. That government school students can be given good and relevant education by reforming and innovative methods is the message of the movie. At times the movie's serious issue of education is derailed by giving it a comedy stance. Reforming the education system is no easy task, the movie itself shows. But it can be done, as a system and not necessarily by one individual. It needs a political, social and economic kick. Still, Hoshiar Singh's message of having a action based and modern education system laced with extra curricular activities is commendable.
The 132 minutes movie is too long and could have been trimmed a lot by skillful editing. It is a Punjabi movie with English subtitles, but Punjabi dialogues have a lot of Hindi and English (not bad). The wrong English pronunciation by a teacher is hilarious. The DO staring at the leading lady, the school Principal's speaking style, the tipsy teacher, a sanskari teacher, and much more ignite light moments.