This story is set in a small town of Bihar, India, 1990s. Manav is a brilliant but discredited teacher who survives by running a small coaching centre.
Jeeva Singh, a school dropout, is the kingpin of the education mafia who runs a string of coaching institutes in the town. Jeeva has plans to scam the entrance exams to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology by using poor students to cheat in the exams for the sons and daughters of his rich clients.
He approaches Manav to join hands with him in the scam. But Manav refuses and despite Jeeva’s threats, decides to coach the poorest students for the exams.
Even with corrupt police and politicians aiding Jeeva every step of the way, Manav’s rag-tag bunch of students do not give up. How they outwit the education mafia makes for an emotional and thrilling ride.
Inspired from true events, this is an inspiring tale of a teacher’s journey to give his underprivileged students a chance at changing their destiny despite the towering challenges that he faces.
Semi Finalist at Academy Nicholl Fellowship.