Chalk N Duster

Director: Jayant Gilatar
Writers: Neetu Varma, Ranjeev Verma
Stars: Shabana Azmi, Arya Babbar, Gavie Chahal
Strength: Plot, Social Message
Weakness: Direction, Scripting
Runtime: 130 minutes
Rating: 1.5/5

Plot: Teachers Vidya Sawant and Jyoti Thakur impart knowledge and values to students in a middle-class school. However, when an ambitious shrew becomes the principal, they are forced to wage a 'war' to safeguard their legacy.

Review: Made with an intention of showcasing the worms in the current education system, where money often gets merit over capability; this film can be lauded to some degree. However, it flounders during the first half due to its tacky narrative approach. 

Presented much like a TV serial, it takes the oft-taken path of following the underprivileged on local train rides. So the point of a teacher's life being hard is made. Yet, it's predictable to see Shabana dabbing sweat in over-crowded areas and keeping the positive spirit at home that has a handicapped husband and their about-to-be chartered accountant daughter. The revered teacher also coaches the neighbourhood children for free. Then, we see Juhi, who is slightly more privileged than her colleague. She can buy a car on instalments. These two teachers also have hardworking colleagues, who become sisters in misery when Kamini Gupta, a devil wearing designer saris, is appointed as the principal. Divya is shown to be quite an unreasonable woman. The shock of having to bear her nastiness gives Shabana a heart condition. Juhi exits the school and vows to get back the 'honour' of her colleague and herself. So, they reach out to a media person, RichaChadha, an IAS officer, a Minister, conscientious past students from the world over and even win Rs 5 crore in a KBC-styled contest, with Rishi Kapoorin a cameo as the quiz master!

While the film deals with a very important issue, the execution of the film completely ruins it. Even the veteran actresses Shabana and Juhi couldn't turn things around because they themselves were strangled by the clumsy writing and the unimaginative direction. You can still give this movie a go, but be braced for disappointment.

Reviewed By Intisab Shahriyar