Hindi Medium
Hindi Medium
Mita and Raj Batra, an affluent couple from Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, are grappling with getting their daughter admission into an English medium school. But there is one big problem. Their zubaan is Hindi, and the elitist snobs won’t let the Hindi speaking hoi-polloi fit in.
Nishant Arora reviewedJune 17, 2025
*Hindi Medium* is a sharp and funny satire that uses comedy to expertly critique the class divide and the obsession with English in modern Indian society. It tells the story of a wealthy couple's increasingly absurd attempts to get their daughter into a prestigious English-language school.
The Good: The film is anchored by a masterful performance from the late Irrfan Khan, who is brilliant as the lovable, down-to-earth father. His comic timing is impeccable, and he shares wonderful chemistry with Saba Qamar, who is also excellent as his aspirational wife. The screenplay is witty and relatable, finding genuine humor in the ridiculous pressures parents face, and its social commentary is both powerful and thought-provoking.
The Bad: The film's second half, where the couple pretends to be poor, stretches believability and loses some of the sharp focus of the first act. The plot becomes more predictable and occasionally veers into preachy, sentimental territory. The final resolution, featuring a big speech, feels a bit too simplistic for the complex issues the film raises so effectively.
A thoroughly entertaining and important film, *Hindi Medium* makes you laugh and think in equal measure, even if it becomes a bit formulaic by the end.