A voice of dissent, a guiding light, a guardian away from home — Udayan Pandit, Ram Shankar Nikumbh or Erin Gruwell are not just on-screen characters played by powerhouse artistes of Tollywood, Bollywood and Hollywood — they are characters who have shaped the dialogue around teachers. Teachers who don’t shy away to start a discourse and break the mould, if need be. On Teachers’ Day, read about a few on-screen teachers who have left a mark and students and cinephiles alike.
Soumitra Chattopadhyay in ‘Hirak Rajar Deshe’ and ‘Koni’
The character of Udayan Pandit is unforgettable in Hirak Rajar Deshe, which shows the power of dissent through the character of a school teacher — Soumitra Chattopadhyay portrayed Udayan Pandit’s character with such honesty that it remains etched in the mind, and shines bright, every time society needs a voice of protest.
In Koni, Soumitra is Khid-da — the mentor that every underdog deserves. He helps Koni battle bullies and the lack of privilege, to motivate and reinstate hope, to fight stereotypes and stigma, to weather preconceived societal notions and power plays. Had there been no Khid-da, Koni’s journey would have been different.
Aparna Sen in ‘Jay Jayanti’
Aparna Sen’s Jayanti Bose in Jay Jayanti was not just a feel-good character in a film with a feel-good outcome; her character showcased virtues one must possess — indomitable grit and the determination to not give up, to not shy away from facing unfavourable situations, and to reinforce the fact that no job is small. A mentor like Jayanti with her life values, raising five naughty children can only result in five adults with good values and ethics.
Aparajita Adhya in ‘Haami’
Children have a lot of interesting questions — from the idea of weddings to physical intimacy. Creating a safe space at school, where young minds can be inquisitive and ask questions without fear or hesitance is an ideal environment. Aparajita Adhya, as Arundhati the school counsellor in Haami, playing the role of a gentle confidant and taking the path of easy communication over scornful glances or scoldings is wonderful to watch and important to emulate.
Aamir Khan in ‘Taare Zameen Par’
Had there been no Ram Shankar Nikumbh, Ishaan Awasthi would have suffered his whole life, not knowing his ‘fault’ or about his disability. To go against the tide and spread awareness about learning disabilities like dyslexia, to hone and nurture talent in your pupil and inculcate a will to learn, and live life on your own terms — Aamir Khan; as Nikumbh sir in Taare Zameen Par, will continue to remain a favourite because he fought to create a system that broke the conventions.
Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Black’
Can a teacher be flawed too? Can a teacher fail and rise up? Black, with its nuanced and layered narrative, gave us a teacher-student relationship like no other. Michelle McNally and Debraj Sahai did not have an easy understanding. They developed their own language, and thereby their own understanding. Was it easy? No. Did it change two lives for good? Yes. For Michelle, it made her resolute, gave her grit, and taught her to find her way. For Amitabh Bachchan as Debraj, the relationship gave a different meaning to his somewhat complicated life.
Naseeruddin Shah in ‘Iqbal’
Iqbal’s story is inspirational and his impediments overwhelmed the audience. But Iqbal’s story needed a ‘sutradhar’ — someone to build a bridge between reality and his dreams, someone who would be his hope. And that’s what Naseeruddin Shah as Mohit Mishra did. For Iqbal to become a man wearing the prestigious Indian jersey, there had to be a practice session in the sun with his buffalos as fielders! He was gruff and unapologetic, but he taught Iqbal to utilise what he had in order to achieve what he wanted. That’s what made Mohit an exceptional teacher.
Robin Williams in ‘Dead Poets Society’
Carpe diem — one word that stays with you after watching Dead Poets Society. Robin Williams as John Keating was a character that left a mark for generations. Using poetry as a medium to see life, Keating taught his students to break convention and look at the beauty of their lives.
Hilary Swank in ‘Freedom Writers’
What binds us all if not human emotions? A simple classroom game called ‘the line game’, introduced by a teacher, united students who were otherwise revolting against each other. Through a simple activity they found what they had in common — grief stemming from trauma. Hilary Swank, as Erin Gruwell in Freedom Writers, played the role of a human bridge between warring young guns, who found themselves and each other, through their teacher. Events like a trip to the Museum of Tolerance, or talking about the Holocaust, the story of Anne Frank, and the journals penned by the students that come together to create The Freedom Writers Diary, depict the power of one’s will that changes the thought process of many.
Julia Roberts in ‘Mona Lisa Smile’
Julia Roberts did so much justice to her character Katherine Ann Watson in Mona Lisa Smile, that at the end of the film, her deep impression on her students made them follow her to bid an adieu as she set off to Europe. Katherine taught art, and she taught it by breaking the course of the discourse. While she struggled in her journey, she nevertheless made her point, and that’s a lesson to learn.