Fourteen Years of ‘Aarakshan’: Examining Prakash Jha’s Cinematic Commentary

Prakash Jha’s ‘Aarakshan’ marks fourteen years. The film, with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead, delves into the challenges and intricacies of the Indian education system. The film focuses on the character of Dr. Prabhakar Anand, a teacher, who eventually starts educating girls. The film does not provide easy answers to the complex questions of reservation but it strongly emphasizes education. The film highlights the protagonist’s idealism. The second half highlights the need for change in the Indian educational system. The film is a story of socio-political exploitation. The film’s cast includes Manoj Bajpayee and Saif Ali Khan, each adding layers to the narrative. The film’s script highlights that the central theme of the film is education.