Sholay makes it to textbooks in MP

[Ramu]

In Madhya Pradesh, Ramesh Sippy’s blockbuster Sholay isn’t just a movie any more, it’s part of every child’s education.
As part of their curriculum, students of fifth standard now have a chapter on the landmark film. The movie’s runway hit dialogue Kitne aadmi they?, which has a cult following, could well be a question in the final exam this year.
The film is mentioned in a chapter on films and filmmaking in a book designed to help students communicate in English and the moral of the story is according to a student, “we learn not to go after money.�
Those teaching the film are also all for its inclusion in the text but parents are playing Gabbar Singh.
“It has all the emotions - romance, drama, action - all in the same movie,� says Swati Kukreja, a teacher.
But many parents don’t feel the same way. Indu Sahu says, “This can do them no good. It’s best to keep children away from movies as far as possible.â€�
And the state government agrees with the parents. The BJP government has ordered an enquiry into the issue and the Education Minister says he fears that students might take more after Gabbar Singh than Jai and Veeru, the protagonists of the movie.
“We are conducting an enquiry on how such an issue could make it to the textbooks and action will be taken against whoever is responsible for it,� Education Minister, Madhya Pradesh, Nirotham Mishra says.
Either way, one thing these students are definitely catching up on is their Bollywood history.


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