Throwback Thursday: Lessons to learn from Irrfan’s Hindi Medium

In May 2017, Saket Chaudhary’s Hindi Medium tugged at our heartstrings. Irrfan played Raj Batra in the film while Saba Qamar essayed the role of his wife, Meeta. On the surface, the film tells the story of a married couple, struggling to get their daughter admitted to a good school. However, when we dig a little deeper, there are various lessons that we can learn from the film.

On today’s Throwback Thursday, before Angrezi Medium hits the silver screens, here’s a look at the lessons to learn from its prequel, Hindi Medium:

DITCH YOUR EGO

Raj is a businessman, he owns a fashion label in Chandni Chowk. He drives a black BMW and is the owner of a luxurious flat in a posh area. However, we never see him let his ego influence his decisions. In the very first scene, we see him draping a lehenga at the store that he owns in order to make a sale. He doesn’t think about his 'reputation’ before donning the piece of garment because his business is more important. There is no place for ego if you want to be successful in life, professionally and otherwise.

NEVER TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED

In Hindi Medium, Raj and Meeta pretend to be poor in order to get their daughter admitted to a good school through the process of reservation. They leave their flat in Vasant Vihar and move into a nearby basti, to live in a dilapidated house. We then see them struggling as they find it hard to adjust to the new lifestyle. Be it chasing out a rat from the house in the middle of the night or fighting for basic amenities like water at the community taps where hundreds are already queued up, they get to know about the value of things that they have waiting for them back at home. Through them, we also realise that nothing comes easy and that we must be thankful for all that we have in life.

TRUST YOUR HEART

We are often told that decisions need to be taken from the brain, and not the heart. But there are some situations where the heart knows better. This message is replete in the climax of Hindi Medium. Shyam Prakash (Deepak Dobriyal) is devastated to know that Raj and his family had been deceiving him all this time and decides to expose the family’s fraudulent ways. However, when he talks to the adorable Piya (Raj’s daughter) in the school, he changes his mind and lets his attachment for the little girl win over his rage.

Similarly, Raj knows in his heart that it was wrong of him to deceive the authorities in order to get his child admitted. He finally listens to the voice inside and towards the end reveals the truth, even if it means risking everything he and his wife had been working for.

EMBRACE WHO YOU ARE

From dancing like no one is watching to the Punjabi track Ishq Tera Tadpave at his swanky house to speaking wrong English with utmost confidence, Raj teaches us to be what we are from the inside, fearlessly.

"Raj tum toh Chandni Chowk se bahar agaye, lekin Chandni Chowk tumhare andar se nahi nikal raha," says his wife in the film. And guess what? He couldn’t care less!

In the last scene of the film, Raj says, "Log haste hain humpe, mujhe koi farq nahi padhta," teaching us not to care about what people say.

LOOK AT THE BRIGHTER SIDE

If you learn how to look for the silver lining in tough situations, life becomes easier. When Shyam Prakash’s son blames his fate after not winning the lottery seat in the school, Shyam points out that this isn’t the end of the world and takes the kids out for an ice cream treat to celebrate Piya’s victory instead. He isn't going to sulk over his loss and rather celebrate his friend’s victory.

DON'T BE TOO NICE, EITHER

Being polite is good. Yes. But that might be mistaken for weakness and lead people to mistreat you. In situations like these, it is important to take a stand. For instance, the scene where Meeta stands up to the woman who is trying to bully her. Meeta is docile at first, but when Tulsi (Swati Das) says, "Tumhari ladai hai, lado," she finally raises her voice and fights for her right. Where kindness doesn’t work, you need to toughen up.

Will Angrezi Medium teach us a thing or two about life like it's prequel? Let's wait for March 13!

ALSO READ | Tuesday Trivia: Irrfan sobbed all night after his role in Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay was chopped

ALSO READ | Angrezi Medium new song Laadki out: Kareena Kapoor Khan has a special message for all bitiyas

ALSO READ | Angrezi Medium: Birthday boy Irrfan smiles ear to ear in latest film still

ALSO WATCH | In conversation with National Award winner Irrfan Khan