Irrfan Khan shines in a warm, funny film that turns preachy by the end.
Verdict tier Recommended, most critics liked it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Critic consensus
Hindi Medium receives a broadly positive reception, with most critics agreeing that the film tackles a relevant and relatable subject — the pressures of school admissions and English-medium education in India — with humor and heart. Irrfan Khan's performance is singled out repeatedly as a standout, with several reviewers noting it elevates the material. The most common criticism is that the film becomes preachy, over-dramatic, or heavy-handed in its messaging, particularly toward the climax, and that it lapses into simplistic characterizations such as idealizing the poor while caricaturing the wealthy.
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 21 critic reviews · may contain errors
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Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
Despite its shortcomings, the film is never unwatchable and benefits enormously from a winning performance by Irrfan Khan who makes his every moment on screen count. From his hilarious wooing of a mother-daughter pair of potential customers at his shop in the film's first half to his earnest amends on discovering his conscience late into the final act, he has you eating out of his palm. For Irrfan alone, Hindi Medium may be worth a watch.
Top critic
Film review ·
It isn't possible to completely dislike Hindi Medium. So, ignore its hiccups and watch it for the relevance of the questions it poses and the remarkable quality of the acting.
Top critic
Film review ·
As usual, it's the marvelous Irrfan who keeps us watching. His is a fine, well-judged performance, which rises above the lines. At one point, we see him cracking up while watching his favourite florid TV serial : in that moment, 'Hindi Medium' is glorious, because the actor catches what he's meant to do, meant to be, gloriously..
Film review ·
'Hindi Medium' is not a film, it is an experience! The film might come across as a children's film but it is recommended to each and every strata of society. A must watch! You will surely come out of the theatres with tears of joy.
Film review ·
Hindi Medium is a well-told parable of middleclass aspirations, scattered with moments that every parents would recognize with a combination of pleasure and dread. It is a solid weekend entertainer with a message for every parent who has ever suffered the traumatic jitters of preparing to get a child admitted into school. Hindi Medium has balls and long legs. Should go a long way.
Film review ·
This film is warm, fuzzy and yet thought provoking. It's a film every new parent needs to watch. It's definitely one of the best of the year.
Film review ·
This is a film with which every Indian student and parent will be able to relate. Kudos to the makers for highlighting the way education is being turned into a business (which only the rich can afford) in our country. At the same time, it points out the plight of government schools where the major concern is not just lack of infrastructure and facilities but also the lack of students.
Film review ·
This class isn't part of the usual Bollywood curriculum, and we suggest that you sign up for it. Admissions open to all.
Film review ·
Hindi Medium is a very engaging piece of cinema, that will make us laugh, cry and even question our own role in how things like basic education are getting screwed up in our society.
Film review ·
Barring a pretentious climax and a few cliches, Hindi Medium is a class worth getting enrolled to especially for Irrfan Khan's brilliant performance and the crisp humour!
Film review ·
With such a bold subject which is relatable to every student and parent, 'Hindi Medium' is not that typical film in the curriculum of Bollywood cinema and kudos to the many positive factors which consist it. With stellar performances, interesting subject depicting the hard-core dark truth of the country's education system, you will not be disappointed while returning from theatres. It will definitely make you re-think about the need of education in today's era. So go get your admission forms (movie tickets) from the theatres near you and get yourself admitted to this hindi medium school without being sceptical.
Film review ·
Watch it for its pious effort and superlative performance by Irrfan, Saba and Deepak that is laced by humour and quirky fun.
Film review ·
A little preachy and over-dramatic towards the end, Hindi Medium strongly drives its point home. Chaudhary's film has immense repeat value.
Film review ·
'Hindi Medium' is a good scoring attempt which is worth watching for its theme and great performances.
Film review ·
Hindi Medium with excellent production values and a strong local story, is undoubtedly a great canvas with a strong message.
Film review ·
Hindi Medium makes a point – several points, in fact – by being simple and straightforward yet not simplistic. The film's achievement is that it tells us things we already know yet forces us to think about them, and has lots of fun while doing so.
Film review ·
While the film is compelling in showing that India's enormous push for English is often interpreted as an instant solution to all problems – including academic achievement, better employment opportunities and economic success, it isn't just an accusation on Indian education system. It raises several concerns, but misses it just when it is required the most. Despite its flaws, the film is still relevant and successfully touches upon a relevant issue.
Film review ·
Hindi Medium may use over-dramatised events to make its message hit home, but in spite of its hiccups, the film is not bogged down because of the performances and the humour.
Film review ·
Most of it works. Some of it doesn't. While being crowd-friendly, the film lapses into simplicities, such as that of seeing only virtue in the poor, while the rich usually comprise pretentious a-holes.
Film review ·
Hindi Medium works because it manages to stretch itself beyond its scrubby elements, easy half-baked jokes, lessons about consumerism and our love for English, into a simple story about a boy who would do anything to see his girl smile...
Film review ·
...between a poorly directed Hindi Medium and Arjun Kapoor's broken English in Half Girlfriend, you really don't have much of a choice...
Film review ·
Hindi Medium starts out on a right note but the need to teach you a lesson is pushed and pushed in your face until you are weary. But Irrfan Khan and Saba Qamar in 'branded' clothes and blingy accessories will make you smile.
From our readers
9 ratings · user score 7.1
Hindi Medium, a satire on our education system by Saket Chaudhary, is a very relevant film. This is his third film after Pyaar ke Side Effects and Shaadi ke Side Effect. It seems that humour is his forte. In Hindi Medium, he takes a dig at our current Education System. These days education has become a business. Children's education has become costlier than many of the professional or vocational courses in our country. Schools have the trend of charging exorbitant fees in lieu of tuition fee, capitation fee, donation, extra-curricular activities' fund etc. 'The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act' or 'Right to Education Act (RTE)' was enforced on 1st April, 2010. When this act came into force, India became one of 135 countries to make education a fundamental right to every child between the ages of 6 and 14. This act does require all private schools to reserve 25% of seats for the children from families of low economical status. But what actually happens with this quota is still under question. This act has many other relevant clauses too in favour of students. It also makes provisions for no donation or capitation fees and no interview of the child or parent for admission. Saket has come up with a brilliant film on this. The film showcases the stress of parents in getting their children admitted into elite schools, and their efforts to manipulate things to get the admission, school management falling prey to bribe, the admission scam, the conditions of the government schools etc. This fact can not be ignored that many of the government schools in our country are underperforming due to lack of facilities, infrastructure support and resources. There is a clear cut demarcation between the English Medium Schools and Hindi Medium Schools. And also, there is a special affinity for English Language in our country i.e. whoever speaks English are supposed to have a 'class'. A person might be very good in his / her mother tongue or Hindi, but being affluent in English only makes that person sophisticated. There is Social Divide between English speaking and Hindi speaking people. This is a mindset, which one needs to ponder upon. Saket certainly is successful in throwing light upon all these issues in a very light-hearted manner. The film begins with a girl - young Mita - coming to a tailor's shop to get a designer dress stitched and young Raj (Delzad Hiwale, Chittagong & Chauranga fame) assures the girl that her dress will be stitched exactly similar to the design she wanted. There starts the love story of Raj and Mita in the backdrop of a beautiful song 'Lafzon ke haseen dhagoon me kahin piro raha hum main huzur…' After a period of fifteen years, we get to see that Raj Batra (Irrfan Khan) has grown into 'the Business Tycoon' of Chandani Chowk (Delhi) with a fashion studio. He understands the pulse of the customers. His wife Mita (Saba Qamar) does speak English well whereas Raj doesn't. Raj calls her Mitthu fondly. She is very particular that their daughter Piya (Dishita Sehgal) studies in any one of the top five English Medium Schools of Delhi. They do apply in top five schools. And for this they do shift their base from Chandni Chowk to the posh colony of Vasant Vihar, undergo specialized training for attending interviews, handling questions and speaking English. But unable to find admission through General Quota, when Raj comes to know regarding 25% quota for the students from poor families, he decides to go to slum area along with Mita and Piya so as to clear the inspection. That is where they get good Samaritan neighbours Shyam Prakash (Deepak Dobriyal) and wife Tulsi (Swati Das). What happens thereafter is to be seen. Although there is a drag in certain areas in the second half with certain scenes of the slum, but consistent humour in the screenplay keeps the mood of the film very bright. Also, certain issues raised in the film do not see a closure. The highlight of the film is effortless acting by Irrfan Khan. He is an actor to reckon with. He blends with every character he plays on screen and he adds lot of value to the same. Even after one leaves the theater, his acting remains in heart and mind. Saba Qamar, originally a Pakistani Actress, is also very good, natural and convincing as Mita. Deepak Dobriyal as Shyam Prakash gives a wonderful performance. His expressions are very impressive. Tillotama Shome as career counsellor is very good. Swati Das as Tulsi is also very much noticeable. Rest of the characters Dishita Sehgal, Amrita Singh (as Head Mistress of a School), Sanjay Suri and Neha Dhupia are all good. There are lot of scenes with which one could relate to – be it the parental pressure of getting their children's admissions in good schools, the struggle of the middle class or lower class to be able to provide good education to their children, the social divide etc. There is a scene where Tillotama conveys a dialogue – "People book me when they are in their first trimester." Unfortunately, this is a Reality too. Hindi Medium, a satire on our education system, is a very relevant film. It showcases various issues viz. Social Divide between English and Hindi speaking people, the demarcation between government schools and private schools facilities, the school admission scams etc. in a very light-hearted manner. Irrfan Khan, Saba Qaram and Deepak Dobriyal shine in the film through their effortless acting.
Hindi Medium is an enjoyable and realistic tale which lands a tight slap on the face of a society which considers English as a parameter for judging people, where people are not taken seriously if they don't speak English well and they are made to feel inferior. The dialogues are hilarious and keep you entertained throughout. The plot gets a bit predictable towards the end and the film glorifies government schools, which are looked down upon in our society. A little preachy and over-dramatic towards the end, Hindi Medium strongly drives its point home. My Rating : 3.5/5
As I was idling on my couch after a sumptuous Chinese buffet on Sunday afternoon with my friends, I happened to come across some articles about an Irrfan Khan movie titled "Hindi Medium" that had released over the weekend. Incidentally, it spoke positively about it & my curiosity was aroused as I was still hurting from the "Half Girlfriend" debacle. Though the thrilling IPL final & Real Madrid's La Liga triumph had made up for it, I decided to check it out after all I had some time to spare & Irrfan invariably had a track record of working in sensible movies. Raj Batra (Irrfan Khan) is the owner of an expensive boutique in Chandni Chowk & was blessed with all the luxuries of life. However, he wasnt proficient in English & didnt quite have the mannerisms of the so called "elite class", which his wife Mita (Saba Qamar) aspired for. Both of them had studied in govt schools & Mita was pretty adamant that their daughter studied in one of Delhi's prestigious English medium schools. Out of the prominent schools, 'Prakriti' was the one which was most sought after but it had a condition that it would provide admission to only those who stayed within a 3 km radius. Hoping to keep his wife happy, Raj unwillingly agrees to shift to Vasant Vihar & make changes to their lifestyles to gel with the upscale neighbourhood . Little did they realize that this was the least of their problems. The scramble for admissions in prestigious schools is a sight which we see every year & it goes without saying that most parents would go to any extent to ensure that their child is enrolled into one. Another main reason for this mad race is our nation's obsession for English over regional languages & it is a fact beyond doubt More often than not, the admission criteria for such schools is based on the bank balance of the parents, their lifestyles & status in society. Saket Chaudhary who showcased his prowess with "Pyaar Ke Side Effects" & "Shaadi Ke Side Effects" has been successful in weaving a hilarious satire on the scamper for admissions in the company of Zeenat Lakhani. There are sequences in the movie which are far fetched but it still strikes a chord with the audience as it is both funny & thought provoking at times. Laxman Utrekar's visuals was in sync with the mood while Sachin-Jigar has given some decent tracks as well. Irrfan Khan rocked as the protagonist which yet again reiterated as to why he is held in high esteem in the West & his chemistry with Saba Qamar was one of the main positives of the movie. Apart from being a delight for the eyes, the Pakistani actress is undoubtedly the best from her country to have graced the Indian screen in recent times. Equally impressive were Deepak Dobriyal & Swati Das who nailed their parts while Amrita Singh was ok who was hampered by a rather weakly written role. Verdict: As far as the script is concerned, it is undoubtedly inspired from the Bengali movie "Ramdhanu" which was remade into "Salt Mango Tree"in Malayalam. The hilarious take on the plight of parents for admissions is something many of us would relate to. Though not meant to demean the Indian educational system in total, it poses relevant questions as to what each one of us considers as effective education for our children. In short, dont miss it!!! Rating: 2.75/5 Regards...Ben
Good . Good : Performances , funny moments , lighthearted nature , script ( that tells us a lot mainly, the condition of educational system of India and the trouble parents get due to it) Weakness : commercial taste at times , a bit more dramatic towards the end
इंगलिश कलचर हमारी संस्कृति को खा रहा है। हम अपनी भाषा को कमतर समझकर केवल बनावटी दुनिया में रह रहे हैं। हमें दूसरी भाषाओं को जरूर अपनाना चाहिए परन्तू अपनी भाषा पर गौरवान्वित महसूस करना चाहिए। इस संबंध में हमारी शिक्षा पद्धती की एक अहम् भूमिका है। With this subject on the anvil new Irfan Khan starrer movie "हिन्दी medium" strikes the chord with more than half of Indian population, whose talent either doesn't get explored due to this language constraint or seen outdated and outcast from the society just because they are not versed in this vernacular. Director takes the 'nursary admission in delhi' schools' route to showcase the obsession and rightly shows that parents can do anything to get their wards into the paycheck of "high branded schools". He raises a very important issue regarding education where parents think that that their children can achieve something big in life only if they have had the education from these biggies. Government's negligence towards the education system is also an important reason behind this. The corruption by politicians and bureaucrats is loosening the soil nutrients which is ultimately weakening this 'plant' of education. The story revolves around a affluent couple who are doing anything to get their daughter into one of the big schools.if they can't make it through this route they fake poverty and get her in with GARIB QUOTA. This misuse of RTE has also been there in the big cities for years. Many cases have been registered in the past regarding frauds and corruption in admissions. The director though starts it well ,goes seamlessly till interval but did not have a strong script to land it smoothly. Nevertheless,he had THE IRFAN KHAN with his absolute comic timing cided with Deepak Dobriyal of 'tanu weds Manu' fame who mixes his flavour to get it well. If you are done with the charisma of larger than 'reel' life BAHUBALI, let's get out of the 'Mahishmati kingdom' and ponder over this real problem around us. A decent watch.
'Hindi Medium' carries fun and pun and funky style. It is also a whole lot enjoyable. And the best thing about tye film is that it also opens our eyes without trying to be even slightly lame or trying to overdo the issues it raises. Starring Irrfan Khan and the debut Pakistani actress Saba Qamar as husband and wife struggling to get her girl admitted to a proper, English medium school is a saga that you might find a little hard to even believe, but this make-belief has been well-made. The craft is stupendously etched out. The performers, especially Irrfan, dazzle. But it is truly Deepak Dobriyal whi wins you over. His performance as a poor man is extremely funny and promising. However, its first galf drags considerably. Perhaps, because its flashy. And still, 'Hindi Medium' lifts off as a solid film which addresses our educational system with cleverness. It is well-written and colloquially fresh.
Credits
Irrfan Khan
Deepak Dobriyal
Saket Chaudhary
Bhushan Kumar
Krishan Kumar
Dinesh Vijan
Sachin-Jigar
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