December 21, 2007

by Satya Adhar 

Focusing on children's dilemma and their unique world, Bollywoods latest offering ‘Taare Zameen Par‘ delves into the world of a special child for whom the colors of flowers and kites hold more appeal than grades, but the childs talent is understood only by a sensitive teacher. Bollywood actor Aamir Khan explores the childrens' world in “Taare Zameen Par” (TZP), which marks Khans debut as director. And what a debut it is!

The film is about a boy aged around eight years with dyslexia, the learning disability, who retreats into a shell rather than face a world of stiff parental expectation and academic competition. At a boarding school, where he is sent to be disciplined, he meets a teacher who doesn’t expect him to score top grades and shares his world of colours, fish, dogs and kites.[Thaindian News ]

All - media, viewers, critics - are heaping their praise on the movie, story and performances. Everyone is gungho about a simple sensitive movie which has neither the six pack abs or fresh charming faces or bollywood conventional masala or glamour dolls.  Only Aamir Khan could deliver such a movie!   

Indian Express writes "this outstanding work of cinema is a result of perfection from all perspectives. It subtly highlights the gifts bestowed upon handicapped children, the sensitivity with which these special kids need to be treated, the lackadaisical approach of the society and various other unwanted factors.  The review goes on to say If Aamir, the actor, is brilliant then Aamir the director is no less.

As usual, Times of India is a little conservative in its views giving the movie only three stars and telling that the major problem of the film is that it moves at a constant slow pace. It doesn’t get heavy but gives you a figment of restlessness. However, even they had to recommend it "Watch it for the lack of melodrama, watch it for the performances, watch it for the sheer genuineness that the filmmakers try to show."

Talking of the performances dnaindia says   Darsheel Safary does complete justice to the role of Ishaan. When you see him crying, sucking in air through a pair of trembling buck-tooth, you realise he is a natural. Aamir too raises his own bar in this film.

Indiaglitz sums it all up perfectly "Here’s a film of which its makers and we as Indians can be truly proud. A film for every human being who realizes that the future of mankind lies in how he nurtures today’s children. If this film does not win any Best Film award this year, it will be the awards’ loss. For rarely have entertainment and message so exquisitely combined in Hindi cinema."

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