Siddhant

A Mathematics scholar has high expectations from his bright grandson but is shocked when he finds out the bitter truth that the kid has been hiding.

Review: Much has been said and written about the pressures of preparing for board exams and the high expectations of parents from their wards. Siddhant explores something similar yet, in a way that will change the way we look at academic performance. Simply put, it offers a look into the psyche of adolescents and makes some interesting observations about studies, more specifically about the dreaded subject- Maths.

The story is about an aged Maths scholar Ganesh Thosar portrayed very efficiently by the veteran Vikram Gokhale. Ganesh, or Appa as he is fondly referred to as, is in the process of starting a learning centre to prepare students for the Maths Olympiad. In the meantime he is also grooming his grandson Vakratund (Archit) for the class X board exams. On paper, Vakratund is a scholar as well, securing 100 out of 100 in his class VIII and IX exams but the truth is something different and Appa learns of it when he visits the local politician to gather funds for his learning centre. From then onwards, the story does not just remain about Appa’s struggle to cope with the truth but also becomes a test of patience for his family.

The film has released at a good time in sync with the declaring of board results. It has stellar actors who have done a fantastic job. Gokhale is as energetic as ever and gets a role that gives ample scope for him to showcase his acting potential, Swati is convincing and Sarang plays the rebellious elder sibling perfectly. Youngster Archit is one kid to watch out for in the future (he will next be seen in Killa). Interestingly, Ganesh Yadav gets a part which is much different from his usual negative characters and he proves he is not just the typical villain but also a good actor.

'Siddhant' propagates the message of understanding your kid’s potential and working around a way to make use of it. It also delves into the importance of forgiving and caring for your loved ones.

Vivek Wagh’s film is a beautiful one and it’s good to see such a fine quality of work getting a platform. 'Siddhant' is a strong film that is recommended for parents who believe their kids to be race horses trained to achieve nothing but the best.