Shaala

The film SHAALA (School) based on a Marathi bestselling novel by Milind Bokil. It is an adolescent love story set in a small town in the politically charged decade of the70s - the Emergency period, in the Indian democracy through the eyes of a teenager.

Shaala is a ravishing debut feature by Sujay Dahake. Tfilm has won National Award for best Marathi film & screenplay (adapted) and number of other awards at the different award functions.

Its the story of a boy Mukund Joshi and his friends studying in IX grade. Joshi has a crush on a girl Shirodkar, his classmate, who also seems to nurture similar feelings for him. The innocent love of juvenile years, nave, carefree and overwhelming is seen unfolding beautifully before your eyes, and a smile lingers on your lips as you see it growing beyond the classroom into rendezvous in temple and on the street. Later, things go wrong when Joshi is found guilty helping his friend, in a case where his pal asked a simple question to a girl whether she likes him too!! Joshis impression turns bad in front of Shirodkar. Joshi goes through a series of events just to let the girl know about his feelings towards her.

The movie also connects the dreamy world of the teenagers to the outside world that is harsh and unromantic. The unsympathetic world of adults represented by the ruthless English teacher who pulls up her students for not having their notebooks covered in brown paper, the History teacher with inferiority complex and the righteous headmaster who would beat up his students black and blue for the pettiest of mistakes. You have met them all in school. And then there are a few understanding adults like Mr. Joshi (Mukunds father) who seem to know the vagaries of adolescence.

It is a very lovable film and an ideal show to watch with your school friends for a few laughs, a few smiles and to share a few high-fives.

Watch your school days love once again and feel it in Shaala.