Parents' Guide to Hichki

Movie NR 2018 116 minutes
Hichki movie poster: An Indian woman in an orange top above a group of school students standing in front of a school building

Common Sense Media Review

Sakhi Thirani By Sakhi Thirani , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Tourette's-focused Indian drama is heartfelt and inspiring.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

In HICHKI, Naina (Rani Mukerji), a teacher with Tourette's, finally gets a job at a school after being continually rejected from multiple other ones due to her condition. Can she help her class of disruptive students excel and change how they see their own futures playing out?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This heartwarming Indian drama brings important issues to the forefront in a simple yet effective way. Hichki explores themes of exclusion and discrimination that continue to affect Indian society, from neurological disorders like Tourette syndrome to class inequality. While the story is somewhat predictable, it succeeds in moving viewers with its uplifting message. Mukerji delivers an authentic, compelling performance as Naina, and her students shine with their own distinctive quirks. Director Siddharth P Malhotra's film is further elevated by Jasleen Royal's excellent music.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Hichki portrayed Tourette syndrome and the ignorance surrounding it. How did people treat her as a result? How did it impact the character of Naina and her family? What did you learn about Tourette syndrome that you didn't know before?

  • Which characters displayed traits of empathy, compassion, and perseverance in the film? Why are they such important character strengths to have? Can you think of any times in your own life when you've demonstrated these traits?

  • What made Naina such a good teacher? How was her approach different from fellow teachers? What makes a good teacher?

  • How did the film portray smoking among children? Why do you think the students smoked in the film? What are some real-life dangers of smoking, especially for young people?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Hichki movie poster: An Indian woman in an orange top above a group of school students standing in front of a school building

What to Watch Next

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate