"Don't let your child lose at the starting line", this sentence is the "golden rule" of middle-class parents around the world. Educational anxiety probably begins on the day of pregnancy.
The father in the film, Raj, comes from a family of tailors in the old neighborhood and is not well educated, but when he grows up, his son inherits his father's business and succeeds and becomes a local business tycoon.
His wife, Mita, was also born in the old neighborhood, but she did not want her daughter to attend public schools, but wanted her to go to the best private schools in Delhi, receive an elite education, and become a prominent person in the future.
The best private schools, even kindergartens, are a big and fierce competition. It is not only children, but also parents who participate in the competition. More precisely, the most important of these are parents.
In order to qualify, under the pressure of his wife, Raji moved his family to a high-end community school district. But in fact, he can't fit into that "upscale" atmosphere. But for the sake of a child's bright future, what is this discomfort?
Queue up to get the entry form, spend time on professional interview training... Their daughter was not admitted, most likely because she was the daughter of a merchant family. Discrimination can occur at many different levels.
Later, by chance, Raji learned about the "poor student channel", that is, to force a certain quota for children from poor families. Raj, as a "business tycoon", is of course illegal and fraudulent to apply for a "poor student channel" for his daughter. But for the sake of his daughter's bright future, he took a risk and submitted an application through dark line trading.
Documents can be faked, but what about "home visit" reviews? The Raj family, who originally lived in an upscale community, gritted their teeth and moved to the slums, and even Raj entered the factory as a temporary worker, and his wife Mita also learned to compete for water and food. If you want to act, you have to act in a full set. [Cover your face]
The review was approved. For Raj, his purpose was achieved. But his heart also quietly changed.
He saw the poverty of the slums, and felt the warmth of the slums. There is laughter, there is camaraderie, there is brother who put a knife in his two ribs.
And he, a rich man, robbed the poor of a few chances to change their fate.
Although Raj did not go to many schools, he had kindness and justice. He voluntarily surrendered himself to the principal of the school, hoping to give up the opportunity to the poor, but found that the principal from the poor family had already used the "student quota" as a weight in the interest transaction.
At the end of the film, Raj and Mita donate money to build public schools and transfer their daughters to public schools.
A farcical story with a hopeful ending.
Emerging middle-class parents must see their own shadow in the film: doing their best for the education of their children, anxious.
Famous kindergartens - famous primary schools - famous middle schools - famous universities - brilliant future
How many parents believe that winning at the starting line also wins the future. And losing at the starting line is also losing the future.
In the arms race of education, it is not only children but also parents who suffer. A family's investment in education should be done according to its ability and stopped at an appropriate time. More importantly, the educational attitude of a family should be fully supportive, relaxed and peaceful.
Life is not a game, but a growth, growing your best appearance. Winning or losing will be encountered, and it does not determine life.