Analytical Review of "Super 30"

‘SUPER 30’- A SUPER FILM THAT REVEALED THE MASSIVE MOUNTAIN OF TANGLED ISSUES

                               Directed by Vikas Bahl ‘Super 30’ is a biographical film of a Patna mathematician named Anand Kumar (played by Hrithik Roshan) and his innovative idea of scholarly curriculum. Anand Kumar has swapped the age-old concept of - “Raja ka beta hi Raja Banega” and transformed the lives of hundreds of underprivileged children by providing free coaching in Patna which enabled them to crack IIT- JEE.  The film is about the dynamic power of education and talent.

                                        

Click here to watch a trailer of the film ‘Super 30’, if you have missed!

                         Written by Sanjeev Dutta, the script of the film is as elegant as the cinematography which is done by Anay Goswamy, depicting the real effects of coaching institutes of India on education. Saibal Chatterjee, a National Film Award winning film critic, had quoted by writing for the NDTV, on the film by saying, “the screenplay of Super 30 had skimmed the surface of a massive mound of tangled issues” but by and large, I believe that the film has at least concentrated on the biggest issue (a massive mountain) of today’s education system. Let’s explore in detail what the film has tried to convey by replicating through a real personality.

Real Anand Kumar on left

Major Themes-

# Shattering Dreams of Anand Kumar-

                                   The film unfolds with the frame of a young Indian scientist named Phuga Kumar, one of the students of Anand, addressing the foreign audience about his journey and crediting his success to his teacher, Mr. Anand Kumar. He narrates the life of Anand Kumar, back in the mid-’90s, where he secured first in Ramanujan Debate and was awarded with a gold medal by the state’s education minister Shriram Singh (Pankaj Tripathi). Shriram Singh is like every politician merely giving hope to mass, while giving a speech he says-

“India makes people – calculator people.”

This statement becomes true to an extent that Anand Kumar with his ‘calculator kind of mind’ is able to solve the mathematics problem which was published in a foreign journal and which hardly was solved by anybody else from renowned Universities.  

Though being talented, Anand Kumar is insulted and thrown away out of the library. He is informed that he could access only if he had his article published in the Journal. He works hard to solve the equations and goes to the post office where his father supports him in sending the letter to Cambridge. In the post office scene too, the officers belittle them both for dreaming high.  Later his article is selected as well as published and he receives a letter of securing admission from Cambridge but not having enough financial support, he is badly defeated for being born in a poor family.

# Portrayal of Lower class Family of Bihar -

 

                             The setting of the film is in Patna, Bihar around the ’90s. Anand Kumar lives with his family in an old and masonry constructed house. His father is a postman who works hard to provide his two sons best education. The mother is a house wife. 

While posting a letter, the father encourages his son, young Anand by saying following words which later becoms the prime focus in the mind of Anand and main objective of the film. 

"आज राजा का बेटा राजा नहीं बनेगा, राजा वहीं बनेगा जो हक़दार होगा"

When Anand Kumar receives a letter of securing his admission in Cambridge, his father tells to celebrate the moment with special food which is only been made on special occasions only. His father says-

"लिट्टी चोखा शुद्ध घी से बने गा.... अरे! तुम्हारा एडमिशन हो गया कैम्ब्रिज में।"

                         Furthermore, the cycle is a symbol of a continuous journey with obstacles. While riding cycle the chain of the cycle falls and the rider (whether he is a father or Anand Kumar) fixes it by peddling in a reverse manner.  This is shown almost three times in the film. In the same way, the journey of life of Anand Kumar is portrayed. The fall of a man’s career and then he begins his life again by peddling in a correct manner to fix his objective and this way the life goes on.

                            Through the concepts of “Litti Chokha” and “Dahej”, a Bihar culture is rightly depicted in the film to showcase the issues of a lower middle class families of Bihar.

# Education System- A Business-

Anand Kumar traveling to a distant town 

                                In spite of having a rare talent, Anand Kumar is insulted by a library manager only because he is not a member of that library. The echo of underprivileged students is heard-

"शिक्षा पर तो सब का अधिकार होता है सर"

                                In his words, the current system of so-called ‘education’ is reflected. Only who are rich and able to take admissions in reputed institutes are given service and not the poor or talented ones. The fee structure is so high that it becomes difficult for poor people to get admission in these reputed educational institutes.

                                  Besides no finance was provided for education in those days, when Anand Kumar and his father asks the education minister to support with financial aid then he as a perfect politician diverts the topic in such a way that it becomes hard to convince him. He talks about ‘Mahavir, Buddha ki bhumi’ where the ‘holy Ganga Maiya’ flows. This is a reflection of the contemporary political system that how politicians have mastered their expertise in switching the topic when it comes to providing support.

                              The concept of capitalism is portrayed by portraying coaching classes as “Coaching Mafia”. The business of Education is prevalent in these days as “Tuition classes” or “Coaching classes”. Anand Kumar also joins this system and earns a great amount of money. He is standard of living changes- he buys a new bike, wears modern clothes, wears a golden chain, brought a maid to decrease the households of his mother. this can be felt in the song "Zindagi ko Zindagi dikhane aaya Paisa" 

# Sensibility for Lower class and Underprivileged- 

The concept of peripeteia and anagnorisis occurs when Anand Kumar observes the earnings of Excellence Institute and realizes the pain of all underprivileged while he is on his way to home accompanied by a cycle cart rider who rides the cycle- cart. Anand Kumar starts the first batch of “Super 30” for the underprivileged that have an interest and ability to aspire IIT- JEE.  The film makes us aware of the lower classes and creates a cathartic effect which appeals to our senses.

# Method of Teaching-

 The methods of teaching in Super 30 is very unique and practical. One of the songs of the film best describes it. 

Click here to watch the song "Question Mark" 

The teaching method of Anand Kumar is the same as we have observed in the films like "Hichki" or "Taare Zameen Par". He provides practical education to students by connecting the course with live examples. 

the team of Super 30

In a way the film has raised voice against the contemporary Education system that even if there are coaching centers like 'Excellence Coaching Center' than there are teachers like Anand Kumar who provides free coaching to underprivileged so that they can too have an opportunity to crack IIT JEE  and can have a bright future.