Top celebrities, educators and CEOs come together to celebrate India’s first ever Graduation Documentary film Under 25’s ‘Batch of 2020’
New Delhi: As a country that stresses greatly on education, India has made its mark as one of the largest higher education systems in the world. It is no wonder then that students treat their graduation day as their final rite of passage into the real world – a day when they amass memories and motivation from friends and loved ones alike.
However, the case isn’t the same with the Batch of 2020 across the globe. Despite 21 years of hustle, their graduation was unceremoniously stolen by COVID-19, leaving many confused and disillusioned by what their future could possibly hold for them now.
Echoing students’ sentiments that something fundamental must change, Anto Philip, Co-founder of Under 25, decided to take matters in his own hands to ensure India’s Batch of 2020 stands united, no matter what the odds.
In a first by an Indian, the world over, Philip brought together stalwarts such as Armaan Malik, Akash Iyer, Anand Gandhi, Anupama Chopra, Bryden-Parth, Debosmita Majumder, Deepika Padukone, Dhruv Chitgopekar, Faye D’Souza, Hrithik Roshan, Jordindian, Raghava KK, Reba John, Rega Jha, Roshan Abbas and Tanmay Bhat, to create the country’s first graduation documentary – aptly titled ‘Batch of 2020’.
Written and narrated by youth icon Anto Philip himself, this novel docu-film has been directed and produced by students under the ‘Under 25 Studios’ banner, to address key topics that the batch of 2020 will find value in. These include chats around “Everything you need to know about graduating in 2020”, “Lessons from other batches”, “First-Year after graduation”, “Dropping Out”, “Qualities a graduating student must have in 2020” and others.
“Batch of 2020 offers tribute not only to the current graduating batch of 2020 in India but also to all students, educators, parents or anyone across the world who has, through the years, succumbed to the pressure and anxiety of being defined by just certificates and degrees,” mentions Anto. “This one hour power-packed docu-film offers a wealth of information, inspiration, and insights by chosen motivators and disruptors who are educators, employers, entertainers and leaders from varied backgrounds and graduation batches, via thoughtfully curated conversations, speeches, and tongue-in-cheek interviews.”
“This year hasn’t been an easy ride – the times are changing and all of us are learning to adapt in our own ways. My motto has always been to learn as I navigate through life – one step at a time and at your own pace, and I’m here to tell you that you’ll brave through all hurdles and find what is best for you. Take this documentary as a map for your future adventure, let it be the light in the dark and prepare you for the life that begins here…today” said Singer-songwriter Armaan Malik
In conclusion, Anto joins all speakers and celebrities in saying, “If there is one key message that this heartfelt film wants to convey to the youth, then it is this – the world needs us to be brave enough to un-conform. We must treat 2020 as a year of unknown opportunities that require us to break the shackles of our traditional ‘formal education system’ and on its debris, build a new India that measures success on its own terms.”