This week we did something different. A month in complete lockdown in Mumbai, India and four episodes on Coronavirus/COVID-19, we decided to take a departure and decided to delve into Bollywood films. One of the three most favoured indulgences for Indians, the other two being the sport of cricket and politics.
This episode is not another film analysis/critique podcast but instead we were looking at films from a very niche lens – parenting. And we intend to introduce more such episodes in the future too and try and keep things light and kicking.
We are joined by guest Alok Sharma, a film and TV writer, director, producer by profession. A serious connoisseur of comic books and practioner of the art, he recently co-founded his own comic book company called Indusverse and has released three comic books.
The films were selected to discus are distinct – Taare Zameen Par and Chhichhore. In addition to the parenting angle, both the films have a very strong focus on education and how both kids and parents deal with it.
Taare Zameen Par – A film about a child Ishaan who suffers from dyslexia and a result of which he is unable to cope with daily life, during his early childhood. Improvement in his life is made by teacher played by Aamir khan, who explains the problem to Ishaan’s parents.
For this film we discuss:
- Toxic parenting who refuse to recognise developmental learning disabilities in their children
- Middle class family thinking
- Education system and the teachers abilities to manage so many children and recognising their true talent
- Do you wish to live vicariously through your children and push them to do things you couldn’t in your childhood
- Punishment without understanding the situation
- Constantly comparing children with their own batch mates and other family kids
- Boarding school looked at as a punishment
Chhichhore – Anni (Shushant Singh) and Maya’s (Shraddha Kapoor) son attempts suicide after failing to do well in his engineering entrance exams and is in a critical condition. While in the hospital Anni tells him stories about his college friends and he starts to respond to treatment. Anni then calls his friends side and make his son understand how they turned winners from losers. Anni and Maya are divorced and are also co-parenting.
For this film we discuss:
- Pressure mounting on young teens preparing themselves for higher studies
- Concept of divorced parents form an Indian perspective
- If my father is something I want to beat him at his own game and carrying forward his name
- Work-life balance, with kids, without kids
- Kids obsession with death and morbidity
- Kids HAVE TO experience failure
Listen to the episode and let us know what you think. If you have any ideas and suggestions for us then please feel free to write to us on popsinapod@gmail.com or you can follow us on the below social media handles.
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