Music School

Story:

Music School is a 2023 Indian musical film made in Telugu and Hindi languages written and directed by Papa Rao Biyyala, starring Shriya Saran, Prakash Raj, Sharman Joshi, Ozu Barua and Gracy Goswami in important roles. The principal photography of the film started on 15 November 2021. The film has 12 songs, with 9 of them composed by Ilaiyaraaja.The film was released on 12 May 2023.

PLOT

Music School revolves around the Head of the Art Department, Manoj (Sharman Joshi), and a recently-hired music teacher, Mary (Shriya Saran), who are both concerned about the falling student enrolment in their classes. This is because most youngsters are under tremendous academic pressure from their teachers, parents, and society, and any extracurricular activity is a ‘waste of time’ for them. On the other hand, Manoj and Mary decide to open a music academy for children to attend after school. They also plan to make The Sound of Music their first play. Will children be able to join them and pursue their interests, or will they be obliged to focus only on their studies due to parental pressure?

As a first-time feature film director, Papa Rao Biyyala has chosen a relevant subject. This 129-minute drama addresses the expectations that schools and parents impose on students to focus on academics rather than extracurricular activities like art, music, or athletics. One has seen this in films such as Taare Zameen Par, but this one has a musical twist. The first half is well-paced and balanced in quickly establishing the story’s plot. However, the film fails to hold your attention for too long, as the lengthy musical sections that appear suddenly, although situational, make it a tedious watch. Aside from the musical notes, better scripting and screenplay would have done wonders for the film.

The movie has 11 songs (by Ilaiyaraaja), with ‘Do-Re-Mi,’ ‘So Long Farewell,’ and ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’ from the Hollywood musical drama based on the true life of the von Trapp family, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. All of these songs are lyrical, meaningful and soothing to listen to for a while.

Shriya Saran is an absolute delight to watch. She lights up every frame from her first song, “I Am From Goa,” to subsequent catchy tunes. Sharman Joshi’s character makes you want to cheer for him. They have a warm on-screen chemistry. Shaan’s debut performance is sweet, and he commands attention. Prakash Raj and Leela Samson bring the right sense of credibility with their parts. The rest of the children’s gang plays their roles well and makes you resonate with their thought processes of wanting to do something creative yet bound by parents’ expectations. However, it’s Ozu Barua and Gracy Goswami who stand out.