‘Hichki’ Adapted From Brad Cohen’s ‘Front of the Class’: YRF

No plagiarism here, guys!

Stills from Hichki and Front of the Class.

It’s an old malady that has been plaguing Bollywood forever. “Inspirations” that is. The latest to join the bandwagon seems to be Rani Mukerji’s comeback film Hichki. The just-released trailer shows her playing a gifted teacher suffering from Tourette’s Syndrome, a neuropsychiatric disorder that manifests itself in motor or vocal tics, and fighting to overcome it while taking on a class of underprivileged children.

Watch the trailer here:

Since the trailer launch, social media has been abuzz about the similarities between Hichki and a 2008 TV film Front of the Class, starring Jimmy Wolks, Treat Williams and Patricia Heaton. Based on a true story and the book Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had by Brad Cohen, the film tells the story of a young man trying to overcome Tourette’s Syndrome and parental disapproval to become an award-winning teacher.

Now YRF has cleared the air saying Hichki is indeed an official adaptation of Brad Cohen’s book, though a lot of changes has been made to the screenplay.

According to Deccan Chronicle, a YRF spokesperson said:

“YRF has acquired the rights of Brad’s book and has changed the plot substantially. It is a brand new film now. Brad Cohen’s life and journey is the inspiration for the film and Rani’s character. Everything else has been completely changed by the makers and <i>Hichki </i>narrates a completely new and uplifting story of a girl who is chasing her dreams despite limitations.”

YRF spokesperson (in a statement)

Watch the trailer of Front of the Class here:

While Front of the Class revolves more around the protagonist grappling with the condition since boyhood and his relationship with his father, the Hichki trailer seems to point more towards Rani’s character going against the school’s dictum to strike a chord with the kids.