When one thinks the most exciting subjects for films in general, 'mathematics' tends to fall pretty far down the list. There have been some popular math movies like A Beautiful Mind, Good Will Hunting, The Imitation Game, Proof and many more. These films celebrate icons of knowledge and elevate brains to equal footing with other celebrated heroes.

This is what you would call a quintessentially 'Bollywood' film - nearly touching three hours; rather over-dramatic, and high-octane in its treatment. For, how else to justify the grandness and scale for superstar Hrithik Roshan's first outing in theatres, in close to a couple of years?

The credits of Vikas Bahl's Super 30 roll out in English, mere seconds before a character declares that the language of our former colonisers isn't necessary for success. That isn't the only contradiction. The film revolves around a controversial real-life figure who has been accused of inflating his rate of success in getting his students through the daunting IIT entrance exam.

The long-gestating Super 30 tells the inspiring story of math genius Anand Kumar, who is attempting to change the lives of meritorious but destitute students, 30 at a time. Despite the rousing tale and fine performances, the film is bogged down by the lengthy run-time and needless doses of drama.

When you exaggerate the extraordinary, it looks ordinary. Mathematics whiz and educator Anand Kumar has led a remarkable life, coaching hundreds of underprivileged children past the rigours of the Indian Institute of Technology entrance exams. His story deserves attention, but director Vikas Bahl confoundingly embellishes it into typical filmi fare in Super 30. For some reason, Kumar's actual triumph wasn't enough - therefore the filmmakers added clichd adversity.

A biographical drama on the life of the living legend the genius Anand Kumar an Indian educationalist and a mathematician best known for his incredible Super 30 programme, which he started in Patna, Bihar in 2002. The programme coaches underprivileged students for IIT-JEE, the entrance examination for the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) which has a success rate of around 1 to 3 percent.

The protagonist of Super 30, a Patna math whiz who makes complex concepts fun and accessible for impoverished IIT aspirants under his tutelage, is himself a socially and economically disadvantaged man who fought off prejudice and privation to achieve enviable academic success and turn around the fortunes of many others like him. The story of the real-life Anand Kumar should have added up to a commensurate cinematic triumph.

SUPER 30 is the story of a selfless man fighting for the cause of education-for-all. The year is 1996. Anand Kumar (Hrithik Roshan) has completed his graduation and is passionate about mathematics. He's so good in the subject that he is felicitated at the hands of the education minister (Pankaj Tripathi). Anand manages to solve a complex mathematical problem, which has baffled scholars all around the world.

Hrithik Roshan's Super 30 has made news for a number of reasons. From the Vikas Bahl controversy to the recent ones involving IIT students, the film grabbed headlines. And of course, the date being preponed to avoid a clash with Judgemental Hai Kya! However, the time has come to see the film in its own merit as it releases this Friday. It stars Hrithik Roshan, Mrunal Thakur, Nandish Singh and Pankaj Tripathi in main roles.

We are welcomed by a slickly styled Fugga (Vijay Varma), who's delivering a speech regarding Anand Kumar (Hrithik Roshan). Into a flashback scene, the story rewinds to 1996 where it all started. Anand, a brilliant student, gets declined from a college library just because he wasn't a student. This hurts and inspires him at the same time, which leads to getting him selected for Cambridge.

Anand Kumar is a mathematician best known for his Super 30 programme, which he started in Patna in 2002, which coaches underprivileged students for the IIT entrance test. His has really been an inspiring journey, as 422 out of the 480 students till 2018 have cleared the tough entrance test, thanks to his efforts. He has been felicitated by the government, and has been the subject of a Discovery Channel documentary.

From a Hindi film industry that has for decades now barely acknowledged the existence of India's caste system, it is quite something to see two films rooted in caste discrimination - Article 15 and Super 30 - within a span of a fortnight. Let us take a minute to celebrate that change.

"Raja ka beta raja nahi banega, Raja wahi banega jo haqdar hoga." The aforementioned line from the film is the peg that Super 30 hangs on. Based on mathematician Anand Kumar's struggles in setting up Super 30, an institute for coaching underprivileged children for IIT entrance exams, the film puts on display, Kumar's valiant attempts to alter grassroot reality. Most certainly, it is the perfect India-shining story to spotlight and the makers put in a sincere effort.

Against all odds, India's renowned mathematician, Anand Kumar follows his true calling and gives shape to 'Super 30' - a coaching class in Patna, designed for 30 deserving, underprivileged students who are aspiring to get admission into coveted institutions like IIT. But will his students make the cut?