Chalk n Duster

Chalk n Duster is a 2016 Indian drama film about commercialization of the Indian private education system, starring Juhi Chawla, Shabana Azmi, Zarina Wahab, Girish Karnad and Divya Dutta.[1][2][3][4] The film talks about teachers' and students' communication, and highlights the problem of teachers and students in an educational system which is changing day by day.

Chalk n Duster 2016
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJayant Gilatar
Produced byAmin Surani
Written byRanjeev Verma
Neetu Verma
Starring
Music bySandesh Shandilya
CinematographyBaba Azmi
Edited bySantosh Mandal
Production
company
Surani Pictures
Distributed bySony Pictures Networks India
Release date
  • 15 January 2016 (2016-01-15)
Running time
130 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

The film was directed by Jayant Gilatar, written by Ranjeev Verma and Neetu Verma and produced by Amin Surani.[5][6][7]

Upon release, the film received mixed to positive reviews from critics. The Hindustan Times said, "It’s a well told ethics versus greed story".[1][8][9][10]

The film was made tax free in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.[11]

Plot

Vidya is one of the senior staff members at this fair to middling educational institution, which has thus far functioned smoothly under the able hands of Principal Indu Shastry (Zarina Wahab). Everything changes with the appointment of the new principal. The teachers face unpleasant surprises when the popular and considerate Indu is replaced by the ambitious and cut-throat Kamini, who aspires to upscale this middle-class school. Teachers' chairs are removed from the classrooms, the tea is no longer free and subjects are juggled so that, for example, the overweight Hindi teacher is now assigned physical training spoiling the whole dynamics of the school.

All of this is too much for the good-hearted Vidya, who suffers a heart attack after a sudden and unfair dismissal. In solidarity, her friend and colleague Jyoti decides to take on Kamini and the misdirected board of trustees, led by Anmol (Arya Babbar). This entails using a TV channel as a platform for reminding viewers that teachers need support, recognition and more pay.

The drama ends with a recovered Vidya and Jyoti taking on a Who Wants to Be A Millionaire-style quiz to win 5 crore rupees. The trade-off is that if they lose, they will have to accept their termination and leave their profession respectively. Vidya and Jyoti use their talents and win the quiz battle. Unwillingly, the trustee Anmol signs the bank cheque of 5 crore rupees. The principal Kamini apologizes to Vidya and Jyoti publicly on the TV show. At the end, Vidya reveals that she will be handing over the money to former principal Indu to build a school where no teacher will be discriminated against and students will have a good education for less cost.

Cast

Initiatives - Chalk N Duster

It is an initiative by IIT and IIM graduates which very much resonates with the message of this film and aims to solve the problems related with education in India. It is a chain of model learning centers on a mission to provide quality, accessible and affordable education by integrating pedagogy and technology.[12]

Soundtrack
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Aye Zindagi"Sonu Nigam 
2."Deep Shiksha"Alka Yagnik 
3."Jingle Bodmas"Shabana Azmi 

Reception

According to Meena Iyer of Times of India Chalk N Duster has its heart in the right place. Made with an intention of showcasing the worms in the current education system, this film can be lauded to some degree - and gave it a 2.5/5 rating.[13]

References
  1. "Chalk N Duster review: It's a well told ethics versus greed story". hindutsan times. 15 January 2016.
  2. Bollywood Hungama. "Rishi Kapoor to do a cameo in Juhi Chawla, Shabana Azmi starrer Chalk N Duster". Bollywood Hungama.
  3. "Chalk N Duster - Official Trailer".
  4. CHALK N DUSTER - Official Trailer - Shabana Azmi, Juhi Chawla - Releasing 15th Jan, 2016. 20 December 2015 – via YouTube.
  5. "'Chalk N Duster' within mainstream cinema: Shabana Azmi". The Indian Express. 25 October 2015.
  6. "'Chalk N Duster' will make you clap for your teachers: Juhi Chawla". The Indian Express. 15 September 2015.
  7. "Rishi Kapoor to Make a Guest Appearance in Chalk N Duster - NDTV Movies". NDTVMovies.com.
  8. "Review: Chalk N Duster has good intent but clumsy execution". Rediff. 15 January 2016.
  9. "'Chalk & Duster' review: One of the most forgettable films this year". IBNLive.
  10. "Chalk N' Duster review: Nothing rescues this Juhi Chawla, Shabana Azmi film". The Indian Express. 15 January 2016.
  11. "'Chalk N Duster' made tax-free in Bihar Delhi, Rajasthan, UP". The Indian Express. 15 January 2016.
  12. Gupta, Soumya. "Chalk N Dust Aims to Develop a Learning App and Increase Presence in Each State". BW Disrupt.
  13. Iyer, Meena (18 April 2016). "CHALK N DUSTER MOVIE REVIEW".
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