Rough Book (Movie Review)

It was purely serendipitous that I chanced upon this movie– "Rough Book" when I was casually surfing through a collection of movies. The very title and the poster convinced me to watch it at once that I directly plunged into watching. 

There are countless educational dramas being streamed on various online platforms. They either praise the paragons of knowledge or blame the shortcomings of the education system. Rough Book is nothing different from them. At some places it also reminded me of "Taare Zameen Par". The viewers are of mixed opinions about the movie but being a teacher, I could very well connect with the characters and travel hand-in-hand with them. 

Santoshi, an idealistic Physics teacher is shown spending most of her time reading and experimenting. She has a good teaching career in the beginning. However things take a sudden turn when her husband is caught for taking bribe. When she sees the bribe money stashed behind her books, she gets disheartened and files for a divorce. This news spreads like a wildfire that she resigns her job. 

She leaves her husband and visits her mother figure come mentor "Maa". She gives Santoshi, her peace of mind that keeps her going. 

After the brief moment of enlightenment, she moves in to her friends' (who are teachers too) house seeking peace and comfort. She also joins another school which is a typical result oriented institution where learning is permanently put on the back burners. 

During her brief confrontation with the principal–Mr.Sahini, she shares her views about education system. He counters that 

the reality of education system is just a theory of supply and demand— the parents demand;we supply. 

Finally Santoshi is given Section-D. As per Mr.Sahini's education plan, Section-A is for the students who score above 90%, Section-B for the students above 75%, Section-C for the students above 60%, and "the remaining" occupy Section-D. 

When she enters the class the students try to insult her, disrespect her but she doesn't yield. Even when Suhail–one of the students asks her when everything is on Google why one needs teacher?, She lets him understand that in an interesting way and ropes all the students in to the learning process. 

But when the students start flaring, she is sacked for her unconventional ways of teaching and is replaced by another teacher who simply parrot-train the students. 

The movie unleashes how the "Section-D" students backed by a determined teacher like Santoshi, pass grade-12 exam and top one of the standardized exams— IIT Mains.

Despite being unrealistically utopian , the movie made me think a lot. The teacher-student moments gave me goosebumps too. I could see Santoshi as an epitome of an ideal teacher and fell headlong in love with her views about the defects of the education system— "Problem is we teach children many concepts but they don't know its application. So "the teach more; learn less policy" is the biggest weakness of our education system". 

Her significance in the lives of her students is shown when Sohail whom she calls "Google Baba" for excessively relying on Google says, "Santoshi mam didn't just tutor us but has inspired us to learn". 

Her happiness knows no bounds when her "Section-D" students top the IIT exam. It shows a good teacher is a magic wand that can dispell the darkness away from the lives of students. 

The movie also deals with a huge not-so-widely addressed issue— Teacher poaching and the pathetic state of teachers in private institutions where they are seen nothing more than mark generating machines. It is seen when a Physics teacher is negotiating his hike in salary and questions about his job security. It implies that their job is secured just as far as they can produce cent per cent result and toppers. 

Thus the movie is totally for the teaching fraternity. It also shows the mindset of some students about teachers. The movie has reiterated the superiority of a teacher over Google. After watching this I feel that I'm proud to be a teacher; and I will be prouder when I turn out to be someone's Santoshi mam.

PS

I can't help it. These dialogues are still resonating in my mind. 

"I sometimes feel it easier to educate these misguided kids than to repair these broken men!"

"Universities randomly make a syllabus. We are teachers, not salesmen looking to complete our targets."

"Schools and colleges are not just for attending lectures. They teach discipline and develope personality." 

"Who benefits the most from teaching?"

"Strengthen the basics, practise and then apply it. You will automatically score marks."