An educated choice

Jasmine Singh 

If all you know about Punjabi cinema is that it is all about making you laugh, sob, fall in love and fight, well, then you have to grab tickets for this week’s release, Son Of Manjeet Singh. A film which is a satire on the present day education system, might remind you of Taare Zameen Par or 3 Idiots, but Son Of Manjeet Singh stands on its own for its content and execution. 

Director Vikram Grover has handled the sensitive topic with maturity. The film revolves around a young kid who dreams of playing cricket but the education system and his father has other plans for him. The director has kept the feel of the movie pretty realistic, something all kids and parents can relate to. Even though the film does get slightly preachy after the second half and a bit dragged too, nevertheless you can’t tear yourself from any scene. 

All the emotional scenes will pull the strings of your heart, and if you are a parent, you can actually feel Gurpreet Ghuggi’s pain as a father. The dialogues are impactful, and well-placed. Not even once does Vikram Grover overuses emotions, he sticks to the story throughout the film. 

It goes without saying that if Vikram Grover is the captain of this ship then Gurpreet Ghuggi is the best sailor who steers the ship safely to the harbour. It also goes without saying that actor Gurpreet Ghuggi is an institution in himself, the artiste single-handedly handles the film, justifying his role to the tee. Every single dialogue that he utters, every single tear that he sheds is so real that he brings alive the plights of a father who is helpless in the hands of the education system and how he fights it. Yet another artiste who deserves a huge round of applause is Damanpreet Singh. The young actor shows immense potential. For a change, BN Sharma’s short and sweet role entertains. The real actors of the film are its story and Gurpreet Ghuggi, so this does not leave any space for an actress. Japji Khaira’s role is not well-defined and neither impactful. Karamjit Anmol, Malkit Rauni and Harby Sangha are good too. 

The film does have one or two over dramatic and unrealistic moments, but the director has shot them so well that you don’t mind them! Son Of Manjeet Singh not only takes a dig at the education system in the country, it also offers few solutions. The film hits a century with its sensitive topic and mature execution! 

 jasmine@tribunemail.com