The film is low key, restrained and often too laid back. Yet it works because it is intensely topical and has an uncluttered charm to it. Set in the precincts of an old world school, it traces the battle of a handful of sincere and committed teachers and students against a newage management that wants to transform the centre of education into a commercial venture.
Needless to say, the malaise within Saraswati Vidya Mandir is symptomatic of the disturbing trend which seems to have overtaken our real-life schooling system too. One where an increasing number of private schools are yelling `show me the money' to a growing band of concerned parents. Again, can't blame them entirely, can we? Blame the competition....
But Paathshaala does strike a chord with its simple tale of how a few good men -- and kids -- first try to cope up with a rapidly changing system of education which has the kids trying to hard sell their school by participating in reality shows and grabbing space in the print and television media.
The management has not only hiked the fee and is implementing any and every scheme to make an easy buck, it has also hired a marketing company to create a buzz about the school. It doesn't take long before the sensitive and guru-like teachers are all side-lined by the cell-phone wielding image-makers who wouldn't care less about a kid's emotions. But, there's only this much moolah-alone-matters mantra that our in-house Sidney Poitier (read Shahid Kapoor) can handle. Soon, he's spearheading an andolan against the brutish management, along with the bachcha log and the noble profession people.
The film does slog somewhat, specially in the second half and tends to lose momentum due to a loose script and an unimaginative screenplay. Shahid Kapoor underplays his underwritten role as does Nana Patekar. Also, surprisingly there is a non-existent romantic track between Shahid and nutritionist Ayesha Takia. But the emotional quotient and the topicality of the film keep the interest running.
