Mind-blowing, amazing and intense are some of the words used to describe Aamir Khan’s directorial film Taare Zameen Par. Before watching it I read about several stars who were so overcome with emotion that they cried. While watching it and after, I was right among them. If you have even an iota of humanity or compassion in you, the same will happen when you watch it, so have a box of tissues handy.
Not only was Aamir Khan’s superb acting but keen sense of direction apparent in TZP, the genuine emotion that he emoted as the art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh, besides those he was able to draw out of the young debuting actor Darsheel Safary in his role as the dyslexic child Ishaan Awasthi was nothing short of extraordinary.
The top-notch storyline by Amole Gupte packs a powerful punch in taking a subject like dyslexia and bringing it to the fore. Khan took his chances in tackling this topic and turning it into a Bollywood film, but the results are outstanding! Kudos to him for accomplishing such a great feat in drawing people’s attention to this seemingly insurmountable learning disability. He embraced the challenge head-on, letting us experience to an extent, what it is like to have dyslexia, especially in the very creative and visual opening scenes and as he tries to explain it to Ishaan’s father. Then, he passionately demonstrates that it only takes caring along with sufficient time and patience in order to help the affected person overcome the challenge and be victorious.
Showing how every child is special in his/her own right, no matter what handicaps they might possess, should tell the world that we cannot give up on them but do all that we can to empower them and assist them in triumphing over these obstacles.
Successful Bollywood films are usually termed as over-the-top, escapism movies where there is action, thrills, a love triangle and a lot of singing and dancing around trees, and for the most part this is the case. However, without any of the cotton candy fluff, love triangle or an element of action in a thrills sort of way, TZP keeps you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as the story pulls you into its scary, sad, angry and happy moments.
Even though Khan doesn’t appear until right at intermission, the story follows through and brings you to him right at the exact time and not a moment sooner. It is at the apex of the film where you can not only see but feel that Ishaan has reached his breaking point, thus enters the relief element. Although Ishaan isn’t aware of this this fact or much else as he is, by this point, just existing in a place where he tries desperately, to shut the rest of the world out completely.
The way Nikumbh takes an interest in Ishaan is heartwarming. Not only does he succeed in helping him, but he turns the school and Ishaan’s family on their ears in demonstrating how to work with those affected by dyslexia, rather than labeling them “stupid”, “lazy” and “stubborn” and in most cases giving up on them. The final results are phenomenal to say the very least. There should be more inspirational and educational films like TZP, to wake people up and alert them to the issues and how to deal with them effectively!
Taare Zameen Par is definitely a must see film! If you haven’t seen it already, do so. If you have, go see it again.
***** out of 5 stars
Cast: Aamir Khan, Darsheel Safary, Tanay Cheda, Sachet Engineer, Tisca Chopra and Vipin Sharma
Director: Aamir Khan
Writer: Amole Gupta
Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy
