'Taare Zameen Par' to 'Hichki': 5 films that have redefined the teacher-student bond

For a woman who has a speech disorder, dreaming to become a teacher would be considered not the best option. But Naina Mathur proves everyone who thinks so completely wrong. 'Hichki' follows her determined journey to become a teacher against all odds, and when after a slew of rejections, she is given an opportunity at an elite school, she finds her dream within arm's length. But her batch of students are anything but star kids.

Hailing from underprivileged backgrounds in an environment unfamiliar to them, they are rebellious, undisciplined and disrespectful. Naina, however, manages the impossible with them. Directed by Siddharth Malhotra, 'Hichki' is a heartwarming tale of imperfect people finding perfect relationships, and a teacher never giving up. 

Aamir Khan’s hit movie revolves around a specially-abled child and his journey towards discovering his true potential. The poignant tale showcases how a teacher uses unconventional methods to bring out the child’s inherent talents.  
 

Making the impossible possible is one of the many talents of a teacher, and a similar scenario plays out in Nagesh Kukunoor's 'Iqbal'. A coming-of-age film bearing Kukunoor's signature treatment, it revolves around a deaf and mute village boy Iqbal, played convincingly by Shreyas Talpade, who overcomes various hurdles to fulfill his dream of playing for the Indian national cricket team.

His dream would never become a reality had it not been for the supportive coach Mohit, played emphatically by Naseeruddin Shah, who made sure to meticulously guide the boy and never let him give up. A sports drama with just the right amount of emotion and joy, 'Iqbal' is a must watch. 

A sentiment often overlooked is how apart from people, stories and moments can also leave a lasting impression on an individual's life and teach lessons that no individual can. The Tamil film 'KD' spoke a universal language of love and finding your self-worth through the deeply connected stories of a septuagenarian and a young orphan, the message of which is bound to leave viewers with new and profound learnings. The 80-year-old Karuppudurai (KD) wakes up from a coma only to overhear his family planning to euthanise him. He does the most natural thing by running away from his village, only to stumble into the life of 8-year-old Kutty.

As they set on a journey together, with the mission to fulfil KD’s bucket list, humorously navigating through their problems, valuable life lessons are imparted by Kutty to his much senior friend, forming the unlikeliest of friendships. The film addressed important issues such as social mores and how family ties get played within that, and about finding beauty in the ordinary, but never forgets to entertain. Directed by Madhumita Sundararaman and produced by the Yoodlee Films banner, 'KD', through its unique story and expertly cast characters (Mu Ramaswamyand Nagavishal), teaches us to find joy in the little things.  After all, it does begin with death and ends up reaffirming life.    

Often touted to be a directorial treat for the heart as well as the stomach, 'Stanley Ka Dabba' is an exemplary example of effectively simple storytelling. Directed, written and produced by Amole Gupte, and starring his son Partho Gupte as the endearing Stanley, this film is unexpected and heartwarming, leaving viewers from all age groups with a lot to think about. Set in a local school, Stanley is singled out for not carrying his lunchbox to school by a greedy school teacher known for eating from children's tiffin boxes.

When a starving Stanley is included in lunch parties with his friends, this teacher warns him that he can only attend school if he carries lunch. A curious journey that unfolds gradually, aided by fantastic performances by young and adult cast alike, 'Stanley Ka Dabba' is a unique story told beautifully.