I started watching Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya expecting a light hearted comedy set in a government school. It made me laugh, but what astonished me was the amount it had to say about our school system. But under all the gags, the show subtly speaks to issues that are still being faced day in and day out by many schools. Poor facilities, lack of funding, political interference and students dreaming big in challenging conditions all are significant part of the story.
The story is about Gyaneshwar Tripathi, headmaster of a government school that is breaking apart, in more ways than one. The institution itself requires upkeep, the pupils have almost lost interest in academics and the teachers are doing their best with whatever little they have. Gyaneshwar has a great dream. His school aims to be one of the best schools in his district and hopes that his school will provide him the opportunity to visit the UK. That simple desire turns into a journey, slowly, with amusing moments, unexpected challenges and lots of heart.
The best thing about the show is that it doesn't make fun of education. It makes fun of a broken system instead. The episodes always have new circumstances, which are absurd on the surface but also based on real life concerns. Politicians manipulating schools for their own profit, parents giving up on education, youngsters struggling because no one believes in them, everything feels relatable without being too serious.
My favorite part of the show by far was the pupils. They are none of them perfect, and that is what makes them fun. Every child has different dreams, various battles.There are some who want to learn, others who just want to escape the circumstances and some simply want a chance that someone will care for them. I smiled at most of their situations because they were real and raw.
The teachers are also entertaining. Each has their own personality and they generate plenty of humorous moments together. At the same time you can tell that most of them really care about their kids even if it is not always in obvious ways. They bring the school alive with their chemistry.
Kay Kay Menon shines in one of the leading roles as Gyaneshwar, radiating a generous measure of warmth and humor along with the right amount of emotional heft to make us all feel sympathetic towards him. He never tries to steal every scene, yet when he’s on screen your eyes instantly go to him. The supporting players are great too. There is no character out of place and every one has something important to give to the story.
I also enjoyed that the comedy does not feel forced. Many jokes are based on ordinary occurrences and not big punchlines. One second I was laughing, the next I was thinking how hard life can be for schools like this one. Without question, that stability is the program's greatest strength.
I found the ending kind of fast. There are storylines that ended sooner than I thought they would and I wanted more time with the characters before we got to the end of this last episode. Even then it didn't take away from anything that went before.
Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya is not just another comedy series for me. Funny, touching, and full with personalities that stay with you. More importantly, it reminds us that greater education is not only better marks. Sometimes, it begins with providing teachers and children the support they deserve. If you appreciate simple stories with genuine humour and significant emotions, this one is a must watch.
