In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones is a National Award-winning film written by Arundhati Roy and Pradip Krishen. It primarily revolves around architecture students trying to pass their final year exams while exploring how their own beliefs and ideas intersect with reality and society.
Though the story isn’t dramatic, nor is it a big-budget film with an ensemble cast (though many actors in it later went on to achieve massive fame, including Shah Rukh Khan), In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones is a breath of fresh air. It holds the creative spirit of youth in high regard and softly challenges authority in its own way.
So, let’s talk about some of the story’s nuances.
Consider yourself warned: Spoilers ahead!
In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones Plot Overview
The titular character is Anand Grover (also called Annie), a fifth-year architecture student who has failed four times in the past. The principal, referred to as “Yamdoot” by the students, is a stickler for rules and doesn’t much appreciate the innovative ideas of his students.
As expected, Annie and the principal don’t really get along, but his friends give it their all to help Annie pass his final year despite his unconventional, socially-conscious design.
In Which Annie Gives It Those One Ending
Does Annie Pass?
Yes, Annie finally passes his exams, thanks to a little help from his friends. As Annie presents his designs to the jury, his friends call the college while pretending to be Yamdoot’s overbearing mother.
Yamdoot, who always looks down on Annie’s work, leaves to answer the call, and Annie continues with his presentation in the principal’s absence; the panel gives him a passing grade.
At the party afterward, Annie shows up in a new avatar — with a shaved head as well as a painted butterfly on there — to inform his friends that he will be pursuing a degree in law to be able to sue Yamdoot subsequently. After all, there’s a very clear tension between the student and the principal regarding their opposing worldviews and how they are reflected in architecture.
What Happens to Annie After That?
Eventually, however, the climax shows what the future holds for all the characters. As it just so turns out, Annie is given a job by his alma mater a year after Yamdoot retires.
Now, In Which Annie Gives It Those One very clearly sides with the spirit and enthusiasm of the students. But some would argue that the climax could enable a full-circle moment…
Sure, Annie is young and full of ideas at the end of the film.
However, it could be possible that, slowly yet steadily, due to the rigid structure of the Indian education system, Annie may end up becoming more like Yamdoot without even realising it.
After all, In Which Annie Gives It Those One heavily criticises the Indian education system and its approach to academia. But the system still thrives, so who is to say that one day, Annie won’t turn into the very person he has resented his entire college life?
On the other hand, in the spirit of pure optimism and rebellion, it also feels nice to imagine Annie being that one unique professor whose love for the subject becomes the saving grace of the students.
You know what I’m talking about — we all remember one teacher who was truly invested in their students and their learning, as opposed to feeding their own ego trip.
Annie feels like he could be exactly that. He could usher in a new approach in architecture, one that fosters inclusivity and sustainability, and create professionals who truly care about their work and their community while figuring out a solution for various socio-economic pressures.
I suppose we will never know since the movie has no sequel. However, it does make for something fun to think about.
What Happens to Radha?
Radha is a very interesting character, played to perfection by Roy. She is spunky, opinionated, and quite open-minded. She is extremely sharp. Plus, her thesis — a poignant introspection on the role architects can (but have failed to) play in the betterment of society — is well fleshed out and ahead of its time.
However, Radha clearly displays some uncertainty about the issues that plague society when she talks to the jury. She admits that, maybe, there is no solution to the problems in their field…
This may have been why, as the film later informs its viewers, Radha leaves architecture upon graduation to pursue writing (a subtle nod to Roy’s own life). Unfortunately, however, drowns and dies before she is able to publish her first book.
Side Note: I also think it is very interesting that architecture is how the makers of this film have decided to critique society. In 2024, there has been an ardent debate around short-sighted city planning and “hostile” infrastructure everywhere, including in India, which has now become the most populated country in the world. Maybe it is the times we live in, but the concepts and ideas presented in In Which Annie Gives It Those One should probably be revisited.
Is Yamdoot Really That Bad?
Of course, Yamdoot is someone who seems to really have it out for Annie. But then again, Indian movies do have a tendency to paint principals as the villain (think: Amitabh Bachchan in Mohabbatein).
However, when Annie and Bijli get taken away by the cops, Yamdoot also shows up at the police station and then drops them home.
So, I found myself wondering after the film ended if Yamdoot was seriously an asshole who had one scene of redemption or if he is misunderstood (like Bachchan).
The answer I landed on, however, is that Yamdoot is just not complex a character. He’s a middle-aged man, presumably single (based on the fact that he still lives with his mother and does not seem to have any life outside of his work), who simply shows up and does the job he is assigned to do.
Yamdoot is not a man who wants to bring about revolution. It seems like he merely wants to ensure his students are ready for the “real world,” whatever that means to him.
In other words, Yamdoot is just a man; he’s neither good nor bad. He isn’t remarkable or extraordinary, and he isn’t really there to mentor his students and help them fulfil their potential. But he is the embodiment of most teachers in our country.
But this brings up a larger question to the forefront — if education is meant to foster innovation and critical thinking, why is it that our education system constantly fails the ones who have a genuine vision?
