Ubuntu

Story: When elders threaten to shut down the only school in the village, a handful of students and a sincere teacher take it upon themselves to keep the classes going.

Review: In the recent past, the NFDC production Vees Mhanje Vees delved into the sad state of affairs at schools in some villages. However, it didn’t do complete justice to the topic at hand. Ubuntu, Pushkar Shrotri’s debut directorial, takes up a similar subject and succeeds to an extent in doing justice to it.

For starters, Ubuntu means compassion and humanity, and the film aims to instil these values in viewers. A teacher (Sathaye) at the village school is trying his best to imbibe moral values as well as education in his students. However, the lack of attendance from his students starts creating problems. Further, the kids’ antics add to the problem. But when the Sarpanch (Shende) threatens to shut down the school if the minimum attendance is not met daily, the kids unite and pledge to prevent the school from shutting down. Now, the kids are hell bent on getting their peers to school, by hook or by crook.

The most interesting part of the film is the discourse of practical knowledge from the teacher. From treasure hunts to explain geography to games helping in mathematical solutions, the teacher, enacted well by Sathaye, gives the job his best. Then comes the message of humanity, which again is bang on.

Ubuntu leaves an impression on your minds, primarily because it’s simple yet powerful message. Thankfully, it doesn’t get preachy and that’s a relief. But what works against the film is the second half. The songs in this part contribute to the slow pace and make it a bit tedious.

Besides this, Ubuntu is an enjoyable film that drives home a point. Watch out for the young actors; they boost the viewing experience.