Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 8, 2018)

While at first glance, Rani Mukerji’s Hichki appears to narrate the story of a woman suffering from the Tourette Syndrome, a nervous disorder that leads to recurring bouts of hiccups, the makers assert that at its crux, the film celebrates triumph over any obstacle. mid-day has learnt that Mukerji is set to film for a promotional video that celebrates the shunning of societal stigmas as part of promotions for the drama.

Asserting that the film refers to any “handicap” that a person may brave, co-producer Maneesh Sharma says, “Hichki could stand for anything — a handicap, challenge or obstacle. The film hopes to highlight that it can always be overcome. Social prejudice and personal bias are also hiccups.”

While Mukerji’s Naina struggles with the health disorder, her students, portrayed as underprivileged children, are seen braving societal discrimination. “The promotional music video will celebrate victory over social stigmas. It will be filmed in the same locations where the film was shot, which includes colleges, slums, and the city streets. The film highlights how Naina empowers her students to stare down at stigmas. The video will feature real-life individuals who have fought discrimination and overcome it with determination. It’s about ordinary people making extraordinary changes to their lives,” says a source, adding that the makers are still contemplating whether the video should be incorporated in the film’s final edit. “With this video, as is with the film, we will highlight the stories of those who’ve dealt with hichkis and achieved their dreams,” Sharma says.