Latest news with #VineshViswanath
Time of India
21-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Malayalam film sparks ‘U-turn' in Telangana classrooms
Hyderabad: A Malayalam film has inspired a classroom transformation in Telangana, beginning with Jangaon district. Since July 16, as many as 286 primary and upper primary schools here have introduced the 'U turn' seating arrangement, a concept first showcased in the 2024 film 'Stharathi Sreekunttan' by director Vinesh Viswanath. Even six high schools have taken the turn, quite literally. The film, known for its progressive message, ditches traditional classroom rows for a U-shaped layout. Its central idea — that all students are equal — is symbolised by eliminating the notion of front and back benches, ensuring every child has equal visibility and access. Inspired by this idea, Jangaon district collector Rizwan Basha Shaik directed schools to adopt the model. "Out of 341 primary and 68 upper primary schools, 286 have already implemented it. The rest will follow soon,' said district education officer D Bhojanna. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad However, he noted that the concept works best in classrooms with fewer students. 'Ideally, it suits classrooms with around 30 students. In our 30 residential schools, where enrolment is higher, implementation isn't feasible right now,' Bhojanna explained. Of the 107 high schools in the district, six schools have made the switch so far. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Global Indices Are on the Move — Time to Trade! IC Markets Undo One concern raised was whether students might experience neck strain by having to turn toward the teacher. 'That's a valid concern, but we've found practical ways to address it,' Bhojanna added. Another feature of the new layout is the rotation of seats — no student gets a fixed place. This encourages fairness and breaks monotony. Teachers, too, find it easier to engage with the entire class. 'With this setup, teachers can maintain eye contact with all students, and discussions become more inclusive as everyone can see one another,' an official said. The response so far has been encouraging. Students have taken well to the change and enjoy the fresh classroom dynamic. Telangana now joins Kerala and Tamil Nadu in embracing the U-turn, both in spirit and in school furniture.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Driven by film on backbencher, Kerala schools reform seating
KOCHI: The great Indian classroom divide between frontbenchers and backbenchers is being bridged in some Kerala schools by introducing a semi-circle seating arrangement that seemingly reduces the degrees of separation between teachers and students. The idea, inspired by the 2024 Malayalam movie 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan', is meant to initiate better interactions and inclusivity, including doing away with the cross of "backbencher" that many students bear for a lifetime. "Before its release, we had shown the movie to state transport minister K B Ganesh Kumar. He was impressed with the idea and implemented it in Ramavilasam Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVGHSS) at Valakom, where he is part of the school management," said debutant director Vinesh Viswanath. At least eight schools in the state, and one in Punjab, have since altered seating inside classrooms to improve the optics of teacher-student interaction. "We never expected this kind of social impact. We are happy that the movie is being discussed nationally," Viswanath said. 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan' revolves around backbencher Sreekuttan, who challenges a frontbencher in the school elections. The protagonist, during a science fair, proposes semi-circular seating to bridge the student divide. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like So sánh mức trượt giá: Hợp đồng tương lai (CFD) Bitcoin vs Ethereum IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo In the movie's finale, his idea is adopted by the school, marking a shift in teaching patterns. "In a typical classroom, students at the back often feel left out, and teachers unintentionally focus more on those in the front rows. With a semi-circular layout, every student is now part of the core," said Sunil P Sekhar, principal of RVGHSS. "We have noticed more participation, improved teacher-student interaction, and a sense of equality among students." Amruth G Kumar, professor at Central University of Kerala's School of Education, said classroom seating used to be "U-shaped" until education spread. "Schools shifted to a row-like system when the number of enrolments increased in the 19th century," he said. Teachers in schools that have shifted to semi-circular seating acknowledge that the change has resulted in students showing improved focus and better posture, making learning easier, clutter-free and more engaging.
Mint
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Harsh Goenka is thankful he didn't go to school in Kerala: ‘Where would I have hidden my…'
Kerala schools are doing away with conventional seating arrangements (traditional rows with desks arranged in straight lines facing the teacher) and have opted for a semi-circular arrangement with the educator in the centre, mitigating the concept of "backbenchers". The revolutionary classroom seating order is inspired by the Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan. Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, mockingly remarked that he was glad to have skipped Kerala schools as "they've abolished backbenchers! That was my permanent seat," he said. "Thank goodness I didn't go to school in Kerala — they've abolished backbenchers! That was my permanent seat. Where would I have hidden my quick nap, my doodles, my secret samosa?" the tweet read. His post drew an array of reactions from social media users, who echoed similar sentiments and described the nostalgia of sitting in the back seats. A user wrote: "This Kerala system, going by the fact that first benchers typically don't sign well in life, the entire classroom won't be signing well." Another said: "When I answered a question in class and the whole class turned back to look at me — that feeling was priceless. That's what made me stay a backbencher forever. Not just for naps and secret snacks, but for those quiet moments of surprise." A third user said: "We should have these arrangements in colleges and universities. Definitely not in school… Why compromise fun in school?" A fourth user simply wrote: "Proud to be a backbencher." Several schools in Kerala are adopting a new semi-circular classroom seating arrangement inspired by the Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, which premiered on Saina Play last month. Moving away from traditional rows, this change places the teacher at the centre. Director Vinesh Viswanath, whose debut film is set in an upper primary school in Thiruvananthapuram, said, 'At least six schools have already introduced it and we came to know of it when they tagged our Instagram handle,' as reported by The Hindu. Reflecting on his own school days, Vinesh recalled sitting in a similar arrangement at Government LP School in Thiruvananthapuram and added, 'But when we placed that as the climax, we never expected it to reach so many schools."
Mint
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘No more front benchers': Kerala schools adopt revolutionary seating order inspired by ‘Sthanarthi Sreekuttan' movie
A revolutionary classroom seating order, inspired by 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan' movie, is being adopted by several schools across Kerala. The film premiered on OTT platform Saina Play last month and has since sparked a progressive change from the traditional rows to a semi-circular arrangement. Vinesh Viswanath, who made his directorial debut with the Malayalam film based on an upper primary school in Thiruvananthapuram, said, 'At least six schools have already introduced it and we came to know of it when they tagged our Instagram handle,' The Hindu reported. The narrative focuses how the conventional row-based seating arrangement is given up for new. Recalling his school days at Government LP School, in Thiruvananathapuram, Vinesh said that he used to sit like that in his primary classes, adding, 'But when we placed that as the climax, we never expected it to reach so many schools." Targeting equal student engagement, this initiative aims to promote a change in the conventional arrangement where studious students occupy the frontbenches while the disruptive and rebellious ones are the backbenchers. The concept can be traced back to the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP). The programme, launched by the Central Government in 1994 in 5 other states besides Kerala, had recommended flexible seating arrangements. However, an inclination towards the traditional row system could not make its mass adoption a reality. Set in K R Narayanan Uttar Pradesh school, the story follows four mischievous students. Starring Aju Varghese, Johny Antony, Saiju Kurup and several other child actors, the Mollywood movie was released in theatres on November 29. Schools that have adopted this revolutionary change, include RCC LPS East Mangad in Thrissur; GHSS at Tholanur in Palakkad; RVV HSS,Valakom, in Kollam; Pappinisseri West LP School in Kannur; NSV VHSS, Valacode in Kollam; and Andoor ALP School in Kannur. In most of these schools the class strength is below 20. St Joseph's Convent School Barnala in a post on Instagram said, 'No more back benchers and front benchers. Let our children learn equally.' High School Parippu wrote, 'Our Student enjoyed this change & the change was evident in their bonding also which makes a clear face to face interactions & teacher can access to all students individually while teaching, Giving notes etc.' St George Church East Mangad School said, 'A scene at the end of this wonderful @sthanarthisreekuttan movie where all the children are sitting around the teacher. There is no first or second. Everyone is the same.'
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Malayalam film ‘Sthanarthi Sreekuttan' inspires a new seating arrangement in Kerala classrooms
Vinesh Viswanath did not expect his directorial debut, Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, to initiate a revolution. The climax of the heart-warming, coming-of-age Malayalam film about an upper primary school in Thiruvananthapuram, shows how a class does away with the conventional row-based seating arrangement in favour of a semi-circle arrangement with the teacher in the centre. And this has been adopted by several schools in Kerala, after the film released on the OTT platform, Saina Play, last month. 'At least six schools have already introduced it and we came to know of it when they tagged our Instagram handle,' says Vinesh. The idea is mooted by film's titular character, an unassuming backbencher who is perpetually late for class. The concept underlines the need to do away with the practice where the studious children are the frontbenchers and the often disruptive rebels, the backbenchers. The concept is not new since the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) launched by the Central Government in 1994 in six states, including Kerala, had suggested flexible seating arrangements that some schools had tried. However, most educational institutions have been inclined towards the traditional row system. Vinesh, who wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay with Anand Manmadhan, Murali Krishnan and Kailash S Bhavan, says that he used to sit like that in his primary classes at Government LPS, Pedikulam, in Thiruvananathapuram. 'But when we placed that as the climax, we never expected it to reach so many schools,' he says. The film, starring Aju Varghese, Johny Antony, and a bunch of child actors had several factors stacked against it from the start. It was released after a delay of almost a year and, despite the glowing reviews, it had a rather short theatre run. The OTT release came after seven months, considered a long gap in the business. The first school that introduced the new seating arrangement was RVV HSS, Valakom, in Kollam district, managed by KB Ganesh Kumar, Minister of Transport, Government of Kerala, who is also an established actor in Malayalam cinema. 'We had shown it to him several months before the film reached theatres and he liked it a lot. We were unaware that he had introduced the system in his school until one of his relatives told us. However, we could not publicise it when the film released because that was the climax of the movie. We made the reveal only after it started streaming on OTT,' says Vinesh. Director's take Vinesh Viswanath, who has directed several short films and a documentary, was an assistant in Anveshanam (2020), directed by Prasobh Vijayan. The pandemic that followed deprived him of chances to work with more directors. 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan has many characters whose traits are taken from the people I know. Some of the incidents have happened to me during my school days,' he says. Vinesh has directed the documentary, Ee Bhoomeente Peru, which captures the journey of Thiruvananthapuram-based theatre troupe, Kanal Samskarika Vedi, when they travelled to Dibrugarh in Assam for Bharat Rang Mahotsav. According to Sunil P Sekhar, headmaster of RVV HSS, the new arrangement was introduced last year in classes one to four. 'We are continuing with it. It is not possible to have the semi-circular layout in all classes because the dimensions of the classrooms and number of students in each division varies. We have classes where there are 35 to 40 students. In such cases, we have changed the shape a bit without compromising on the idea of the teacher giving equal attention to all,' Sunil says. Other schools that have adopted this so far include Pappinisseri West LP School in Kannur, Andoor ALP School in Kannur, RCC LPS East Mangad in Thrissur, GHSS at Tholanur in Palakkad, and NSV VHSS, Valacode in Kollam. In most of these schools the class strength is under 20. Bindu MV, head of Pappinisseri West LP School, says that the school was happy to try the layout, which was suggested by one of their teachers, Amal C. 'We have implemented it in classes one and three. Since we have only a few students, we found it feasible,' she says. Amal adds, 'The children and teachers have liked it. The classroom looks more spacious now.' Sajesh PC, headmaster of Andoor ALPS, says that he was receptive to the suggestion put forward by one of the teachers, Athul MT. 'We have different clubs in school, and he was the one who started the film club. We were open to breaking conventions when he put forward this idea,' says Sajesh. Athul says that all classes except the kindergarten have this new seating system. 'We also screened the film for the students since all of them had not watched it,' he adds. According to Aalbert Christin, a teacher at RCC LPS, East Mangad, the same idea had been discussed earlier at various training programs organised by the Department of Education. 'Our teachers have done it before. It is the best way to communicate with students. The movie has inspired us to make it permanent and now it is in place in all primary classes, except in those classrooms that are not big enough. This arrangement does away with disparity between the academically good and weak students,' he adds. The blackboard is arranged in such a way that all students can see it properly, Sunil adds. However, it must be added that not everyone is happy with the new arrangement. Aalbert says, 'The ones who enjoyed being the backbenchers now cannot escape the eyes of their teachers!' The film is streaming on Saina Play
