Taare Zameen Par

Cast: Aamir Khan, Darsheel Safary, Tisca Chopra, Vipin Sharma, Sachet Engineer and Tanay Chheda.

Director: Aamir Khan

Showing at theatres near you

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu

When a perfectionist like Aamir Khan makes a movie you expect it to be outstanding and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this one is - outstanding. It is really admirable that in a place like Bollywood where recent hits have been packed with all the Bollywood masala, Khan has chosen such an offbeat topic and made such an interesting movie from it.

The movie starts with Ishan (Darsheel Safary), a young boy who just cannot seem to concentrate in class, read or write properly, is constantly scolded by his teachers and parents, and ridiculed by friends. But despite all this he seems to be in a world of his own, drifting away into a his colourful dreams. Seeing his studies deteriorating Ishan’s father decides to send him to a boarding school to improve the young boy’s condition so that he can keep pace with this competitive world. But when he goes to boarding school, Ishan has no one to call his own and the torture and punishments keep on increasing, which the young boy quietly suffers.

His only friend in his new school is Rajan (Tanay Chheda) but then comes along Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan) as a temporary art teacher. He is not the typical teacher that we know, he is ready to cross the boundaries and let his students think beyond the world of books and classrooms. Nikumbh comes as a ray of hope in Ishan’s life. And it is their journey - changing the mindsets of people around and giving encouragement to the boy -that forms the story.

When Aamir Khan is in a movie he usually overshadows even his contemporaries, but in this movie Darsheel takes centre stage. He has flawlessly carried the movie forward with such a convincing performance it looks completely natural. Though Khan is not seen throughout the movie, some of the strongest moments of the movie have been

portrayed by him very effectively. Tisca Chopra who plays Ishan’s mother has also given a wonderful

performance. The sentimental scenes between a mother and her child are well delivered. Vipin Sharma who plays Ishan’s father is good. Another actor whose work is appreciable is Tanay Chheda, though he has a small role.

Music by Shankar-Ehsa-an-Loy and Shailendra Ba-rve is noteworthy, be it the fast numbers or the slow soft ones. Prasoon Joshi’s lyrics are so meaningful and apt for the scenes that listening to them you can’t hold back your tears.

Aamir Khan has made a movie which will not only make you think but will also touch your heart. There are some hilarious scenes but it is the emotional sequences, done in very simple way that moves you. The movie reflects society in a true manner and gives an insight to a sensitive issue in a very delicate way.

Ladies be sure to take tissues, as your tears will be rolling down time and again. And gentlemen it is ok to sometimes show your softer side, it is ok to shed those tears once in a while, as this might just be one of those times. Even after you leave the theatre this movie, especially some scenes will linger on.