“Hindi Medium” releases in China today

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Another film from India, the “Hindi Medium”, starring Irrfan Khan (“The Lunchbox”) and Pakistan’s Saba Qamar (“Manto”) hit China’s screen today.

The high quality of the film has been recognized by the public, with its ratings on Maoyan (a major Chinese movie rating website) continuing to go up. On its nationwide opening, moviegoers said the film is very touching, but can make people laugh at the same time.

With its entertainment value and practical significance, many viewers claim that they have learned a lot from it.

A still from "Hindi Medium". /Photo via Chinadaily‍

“Some of the concepts conveyed in the film are very valuable,” said some of the parents who watched the film. “It provided a new perspective.”

Some of the younger audiences indicate that they come to see Irrfan Khan, and his role made them think about their parents.

The film depicts a story about a middle-class couple who would go to any lengths to get their daughter into an elite school in Delhi so that she can be well accepted by the society. The parents, starring Irrfan Khan and Saba Qamar, bought house in the school districts and even pretended to be poor people in slums just to get their daughter qualified for the enrollment.

A still from "Dangal". /Reuters Photo

The theme resonates among Chinese people since China also faces challenges in its education system.

Various social platforms have raised the discussion about the importance of personality and moral quality education: “Is it more important to send your kids to the best schools or to teach them to be good people?”

Indian films with socially relevant themes are increasingly being appreciated by Chinese audiences.

According to Variety, the movie “3 Idiots” that grossed 2.2 million US dollars in China, dealt with problems in the Indian higher education system, while “Dangal” and “Secret Superstar” that focused on women’s emancipation issues grossed 193 million US dollars and 118 million US dollars, respectively. All three starred Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan.