Making education accessible to all

Abhimanyu
Kannada (U/A) ¬¬¬
Director: Arjun Sarja
Cast: Arjun Sarja, Surveen Chawla, Rahul Dev, Ashok Mandanna and others

Every parent dreams of getting the best of the world for their children. Education remains a basic right. 

Only the means to get it is an uphill task for a vast majority. Government institutions, by and large, fail on even most basic expectations while private ones show how costly it is to even dream of getting a decent education for the tiny tots. By the time the child is “entrenched” in a school, the parents would have died a thousand deaths. Some weather it, several don’t.

Arjun Sarja's Abhimanyu has a feasible solution — nationalising education — that, in these days, seems quite appealing. One can’t help but be reminded of the Action King's Gentleman, released to tremendous response a few years ago, dealing with the evil of capitation. 

Now, it is building fund and development fund that people running educational institutions seek. After all, aren’t they providing “the best” facilities and shaping up the bright, young minds for a vibrant future tomorrow? 

Naturally, those who oppose these efforts are Enemy No 1, worthy of total elimination, particularly when they have public support going for them.  

And so, karate teacher-cum-computer service shop owner Abhimanyu is thrown into jail for the murder of the education secretary based on video footage of his entering the secretary’s office/residence, and little else. 

Attempts to bump him off only puts him in London with generous help from Rahul Dev who’s abandoned menacing villainy for blink and miss supporting roles. In London, the heirs of the “school cartel” members are kidnapped, re-kidnapped, rescued and brought back to India. 

Unaware of their hired henchman’s betrayal, the parents confront Abhimanyu, only to be taught a life-changing lesson. 

Mostly, Abhimanyu is gripping, with audience willing to overlook silly lapses. Arjun’s action scenes are a treat to watch but some questions linger. 

Like how an escaped convict managed to go abroad? Or, how did a junkyard gunfight happen with law NEVER catching up? 

Too bad, Surveen, who has more meat on her bones now, doesn’t even get to bewitch the audience much. But Arjun Sarja’s fans are definitely not complaining — after all, Jai Hind came out 20 years ago!