Institute of Education

Graduate School

EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL

A MOVIE REVIEW AND ANALYSIS

Submitted to:
DR. PERLITA JAMORALIN
Professor

Submitted by:
REID ALLEN S. UGSANG
Ed.D. Language & Literature Student

A MOVIE REVIEW & ANALYSIS OF EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL

Background of the Story
Ishaan Awasthi is an eight-year-old whose world is filled with wonders
that no one else seems to appreciate; colours, fish, dogs and kites are just
not important in the world of adults, who are much more interested in things
like homework, marks and neatness. And Ishaan just cannot seem to get
anything right in class. When he gets into far more trouble than his parents
can handle, he is packed off to a boarding school to 'be disciplined'. Things
are no different at his new school, and Ishaan has to contend with the added
trauma of separation from his family.
One day a new art teacher bursts onto the scene, Ram Shankar
Nikumbh, who infects the students with joy and optimism. He breaks all the
rules of 'how things are done' by asking them to think, dream and imagine,
and all the children respond with enthusiasm, all except Ishaan. Nikumbh
soon realizes that Ishaan is very unhappy, and he sets out to discover why.
With time, patience and care, he ultimately helps Ishaan find himself.
POINTS FOR COMPARISON
Nationalism
Being patriotic to ones country is easy to say than being done. It isnt
just simply wearing items that symbolize the country, it comes within the
heart, being able to be proud of their own nationality. Filipino people show
how their nationality by respecting the Philippines flag when singing the
national anthem.
In the Philippines, Filipinos are more focus on romantic-comedy films.
Examples are: It Takes a Man and a Woman, Bride for Rent, A Very Special
Love and many more. Filipinos are more capable of giving light ambiance
towards the viewers. Meanwhile, Indian films are way too different from
Filipino films for Indians focuses more on inspirational, heart-waring films and
the most distinguished are the Every Child is Special and the Three Idiots.
Compared to Indians Films that are more traditional and strict in terms
of clothing, rituals and everything, Filipino films are more likely to be modern.
In speech, Filipino values and clothing, there are big differences between
them. Although there are many differences between Indian and Filipino
movies, Magnifico is the best inspirational film Filipinos have ever made
similar to this movie. Not literally but the mood and the ambiance of the film
are very similar to each other. Thus, Indian films are much more matured in

terms of making films. However, Filipinos can give more cool ambiance and
good vibes.
As what is shown in the movie, there are places that almost look like
the Philippines. There are so many sidewalk vendors everywhere. If Filipino is
known for its dirty ice cream, Indians have crashed ice added with liquid
coloring and flavorings. Indians also show their nationality through songs
expressed with feelings.
Values
Filipinos are born to be polite and hospitable that caused for foreign
nationalities to stay in the country not just because of its scenic places but
the attitude and hospitality as well.
In other countries, once a person reaches the age of 18, he or she is
obliged to leave his/her parents and live on their own. In the country, parents
are teaching their kids the good manners and right conduct. Children are
respecting the elders by kissing their hands and saying po and opo as a
sign of respect to whom it is due.
Meanwhile, since India is one of the most diverse countries in the
world. It is a sophisticated, modern, industrial leader that is a home to many
primitive tribes and millions of poor people. The caste system limits social
mobility because of disparities in distribution of wealth, a wide gap separates
the few wealthy from many poor thats why they are being polite when
talking to one another.
Ideology
This movie depicts many different ideology of the Hindu not just in life
but also in many different aspects like education, children, culture and so on.
An example of this is that every child should be perfect in anyones
eyes or be able to take/lead the world. That any child who has disabilities or
in the movie has a mental disorder or problem is just a waste for the parent
and does not have any bright future ahead. While in the Philippines, if a child
that has mental disorder, people consider him/her a special and give him or
her a chance to showcase talents.
A very evident idea shown in the movie is that adults should not
demand their kids to top at their subjects so that they can live out unfulfilled
ambitions of their parents. Each child is special in a sense that they all have
their calling. In the case of Ishaan, he has the potentials in drawing and
expression of thoughts

Education
Education is surely one of the most important things in a persons life.
A person even has to study for years in order to be ready in what will come
next after that. In Philippines, the country is lucky enough for it gets an
education that is not difficult. Philippines has lots of prestigious schools that
teach not only academic matters but also care the spiritual and emotional
aspect f a student.
In this movie, the public schools are very similar to the public schools
in the Philippines. Its crowded with students that most of the ties, a student
cant learn because there are too many of them in a classroom. Some of the
ways of teachers in the movie when it comes to the discipline given to
students are similar in the country, like asking the student to get out of the
room when he or she behaved inappropriately.
But theres one thing that advances the Philippines and that is most of
the teachers here dont hurt nor abuse their students just like other countries
do. In the movie, one of the teachers uses a ruler and hits Ishaan five times
in the knuckles. The teachers there are very strict and focus o nothing but
academics. Sometimes, with the pressure of studying, the teachers cant
notice that it affects the student emotionally. Just like in the movie, Ishaans
teachers are always calling him dumb or crazy or lazy because of his attitude
towards studying though they dont really know the main reason why hes
like that. So it pushed Ishaan too be depressed, to be even more discourage
and to lose his self-confidence.
Also here, its very rare for a teacher to confront a student because he
or she seems like depressed or having emotional problems. Its always about
the attitude that they see then they will judge instantly. They dont dig
enough to know the true person just like what Ram, the teacher who helped
Ishaan, did when he noticed that Ishaan is always scared and seemed to be
different from other students.

Restoration of Faith
This movie is very inspirational and for sure, all viewers, most
especially the parents could get a lot of moral lessons here.
How Ishaans parents reached in his academic failure is simply stating
that they dont have enough faith to their son. They risked being away to
their child just to make him normal. They were even surprised in the latter
part of the movie that their son has changed.

But in the middle part of the story, the teacher of his school, Ram
Nikumbh showed that he truly trust Ishaans ability even he knows that the
boy has a dyslexia.
The movie has shown the reality happening in India that parents there
dont trust their child enough in their capabilities. They could only see their
childs failures and dont appreciate Ishaans creative side. While his teacher,
that dont really know him much, has a greater faith in him than his parents
who know him since the day he was born.
Some Filipino parents display this character among their children. They
lack faith and dont trust their children enough in the things they could
create or do. They have their own expectation and its like as if their children
is a puppet that will do everything they want. Its sad that people who dont
truly know the child is the one who can appreciate the efforts of the child.
Thats why there is a lot of broken families in the country and their children
rebel against them to have their freedom and to find someone who could
appreciate their capabilities.
But not all families in the Philippines
are like that. There are still a
lot of parents who trust their children and support them in everything they
want to do in life.

Problems in Culture
The movie entitled, Every Child is Special, depicts and portrays many
problems in culture of the country, India. Some of these are the following:
There are no forms of respect like in the Philippines (where children will
bless the elders before going to school and upon returning home).
Education or schools in India are idealists (everything must be perfect
and that children with disabilities should only be in a school solely for
their kind) while the truth their buildings and houses are not that clean
while in the Philippines, the education system is more inclined to be
realistic (means anyone can enter or enroll in any private schools even
if a person has disabilities).
The art class or any form of subjects in school other than the major
ones are nonsense and dos not contain any value for the Indians while
in the Philippines, art class and any other minor subjects are treated
equally as to the major ones.
There are many problems in culture that are presented in this film,
especially in India (although we cant still conclude that Philippines is far

better than India). Thus, this concludes that in both Philippines and India,
culture is not perfect.
Similarities and Differences
In the first part of the film, the similarity that Filipinos have with
Indians is that Filipinos wear uniform upon entering schools. Indians have
school services as well like in this country. However, in India, there are
gutters outside the school where mall fishes live. Their houses are like ours,
simple and clean. They do practice their manners learned from their
forefathers. Indian also has outdoor games like piko, patintero, etc. which are
present in the Philippines.
The movie also shows how a mother gives everlasting love to her
children, which is also very common in the Philippines. Filipinos also find their
mothers touch in times they are hurt. In both countries, it is shown how a
father works hard and how a mother supports the father and prepares for her
children. The same way the Filipinos and Indians have. In Indian movies,
musical parts can always be seen. Indians like to sing and dance because
they want to keep their tradition.
Traditionally, Indian women always wear their saree while Filipino
women dont. India offers street foods just the same way in the Philippines.
Both countries have fireworks display as well. The problems occur in schools,
especially to students, can be seen in both India and Philippines.