A Super Film!

 Over winter break, I watched a movie called Super 30, a film that is seemingly confusing off the title. Super 30? What does that mean? Out of a leap of curiosity, me and my dad sat down on the sofa, ready to watch a movie that had received raving reviews. What I saw changed my life (not to be dramatic or anything).

A quote that really stuck with me from the movie was this one:

"in ameer logon ne apane lie chikanee aur sundar sadaken banaeen aur hamaare raaste mein bade-bade gaddhe khod die. lekin yah unakee galatee saabit huee, kyonki in gaddhon ne hamen koodane ke lie prashikshit kiya. jab samay aaega, to ham sabase oonchee aur sabase lambee chhalaang lagaane vaale honge."

Yes, I know this probably seems confusing, so let me translate. 

 "These rich people made smooth and beautiful roads for themselves and dug massive potholes in our path. But this turned out to be their mistake, as these potholes trained us to jump. When the time comes, we will be the ones to make the highest and the longest jump".

This quote was said by Anand Kumar, a young prodigy who had always had a strong passion for mathematics growing up. Despite being struck with poverty and struggling to make ends meet, Anand would spend hours in the library working and studying, even past midnight in order to learn. He received a grand offer to work with a professor at Cambridge, but due to his financial struggles and his father's health condition, he turns down the offer, stricken with despair. However, he uses his knowledge for good, starting a training program for underpriveleged students who want to pass the IIT (one of the toughest exams in India for engineering), but may not have the money to afford lessons/tuitions. This story is about the transformative power of education, and tells a heartwarming and empowering tale of the struggle underpriveleged yet bright students face. This movie definitely made me cry at times, and I found myself resonating with the protagonist more than I thought, seeing myself in his shoes. The struggle one goes through -- having a love to learn but unfortunately, not the money.

Anand with his students

This quote refers to the large disparity between the wealthy and the rich, and how it presents a preliminary issue to the students. Anand is speaking to his students who were discouraged after a practice IIT exam. After trying in vain, their attempts to crack the impossible exam were futile -- yet their teacher continued to motivate them. He mentions how the rich make their path easy for themselves, with their access to lavish materialism and monetary assets lifting them up. Their journey to success is a seemingly simple one, whilst the poor are left behind, struggling to catch up. However, this struggle is what builds them up, giving them the values of persistence and hard work. They learn to avoid the potholes and jump, something the rich cannot do. And then the right time comes, they will be the ones to jump the highest, making the biggest, most significant strides of success. This movie depicts the empowering ideal of hard work, and how it prevails any materialistic advantage, no matter how grand. 

Anand teaching his students in unique ways

This quote uses a strong analogy, referring to the path to success as a road blocked with potholes to the less fortunate. However, learning to jump over the hurdles is what makes one stronger, similar to the Tortoise and Hare. The Hare is poor in ways, with an inability of agility. It is seemingly impossible for him to win the race, wheras the Hare is rich with pride, ego, and speed. However, he lacks the most important thing --- hard work. Something the tortoise uses to his advantage to overpower. The difficulties in the journey made Anand's students diligent and sedulous, something not even the highest amount of money can buy. He also uses "potholes" to refer to the hurdles one faces along the way -- the unavoidable things we have to learn to encounter. Anand also makes a second analogy, saying "Raja ka beta raja nahi banega, raja woh hi banega jo haqdaar hoga". This means, "A king's son will not necessarily become a king; only the deserving will become one". Higher social position does not necessarily correlate to success, only the one who truly works for it will receive the fruits of his labor.

These two quotes really stuck out to me throughout the film, as it made me rethink the way we approach struggles. Often times, I end up disheartened or discouraged, and look for easier ways. Something that can make my path simpler. However, viewing something as a challenge could help me build up skills I didnt know I had in me. Like Anand's 30 students. Who came from the most impoverished areas of India. Who would have never imagined themselves learning topics like Quantum theory and Coordinate Geometry. Who would have never seen themselves being the Super 30. Its the mindset, not that status that makes a difference. And if you have the right mindset within you to work your hardest, you can make that jump!

- movie enthusiast,

prish