Varun Grover’s Directorial Debut ‘All India Rank’ Offers A Poignant Look At The Pressures Of India’s IIT Coaching Industry
Acclaimed screenwriter and lyricist Varun Grover has made his directorial debut with the film ‘All India Rank’, offering a deeply personal take on the challenges faced by students enrolled in India’s hyper-competitive IIT coaching system. Set in the 1990s, the coming-of-age drama follows a teenage boy named Vivek who moves from Lucknow to the coaching hub of Kota at the insistence of his engineer father.
The Pressures of Success
Even as Vivek grapples with friendships, first love, and his own burgeoning ambition, he remains weighed down by parental expectations and societal notions of achievement centered around the IIT exams. Speaking about the film’s core theme, Grover reflected on the angst he felt as a student despite his own eventual success. “I kept questioning why have I come here and how I was subtly brainwashed into believing and desiring this life,” he said.
Also Read: Fan’s Heartwarming Gesture Towards Sonu Sood Wins Hearts Online
Drawing From Personal Experience
While the storyline is fictional, Grover noted his familiarity with the setting and characters. “The story and emotion are very much from my life,” he remarked. The film promises to resonate not only with those who lived through the era, but also more recent generations facing similarly stringent academic environments.
Need For Nuance
In steering clear of the usual tropes, ‘All India Rank’ seems to argue for more empathy regarding India’s education apparatus – one that leaves little room for late bloomers while placing unrealistic burdens on adolescents. It remains to be seen whether the film can spark a more open discussion. But given Grover’s knack for bringing marginalized perspectives to the mainstream, here’s hoping ‘All India Rank’ delivers on its promise.
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, Movies Reviews, New Movie Release , and Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
