TAARE ZAMEEN PAR: Soul-stirring drama at its best

DIRECTOR: Aamir Khan
STARRING: Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan, Tisca Chopra, Vipin Sharma

REVIEW: Refreshing and soul stirring, Taare Zameen Par dares to imagine beyond the contemporary walls of Indian cinema. Never before has a movie been as deeply immersed in the psychology of an average school-going Indian child's mind as in Taare Zameen Par.
The movie strikes the perfect chord with the viewers, and with its flawless screenplay and enlightening message, the viewers are engrossed in the amazing world of a school-boy, from the very first frame.
The movie traces the footsteps of eight-year old Ishaan Awasthi (Darsheel Safary), who is miserable in his studies and never seems to get a good grasp on the subjects taught to him. Instead, he is more of an abstract or artistic nature, and spends his time collecting fish from ponds, painting instead of completing his homework, and feeding his modest exam-results to stray dogs.
He is further demoralised by his teachers and his parents for bad performance in his studies. Also, Ishaan is also expected to follow in the footsteps of his elder brother Yohaan, who is successful in academics as well as in co-curricular activities.
He bunks his school to evade punishment one day, and roams around on the busy city roads. When this exploit is discovered by his parents, and when they learn about his falling grades, they decide to send him to a boarding school, where he is expected to discontinue his mischievious excursions. There he finds help in the form of temporary art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan).
What works with Taare Zameen Par is that it is in full context with the present situation of the average school child, and how she is over-burdened with her parents' and teachers' rising expectations in the field of academics as well as athletics. It is a generous cry of help by the director, that children have more to life rather than cramming their minds with formulae and tables.
Aamir Khan gives his career-best performance, both in the shoes of a dierector as well as an actor. He proves, once again, that he is the Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood. Darsheel Safary's act is exceptionally well as the suffering and distressed dyslexic boy, and he has a bright acting future. Tisca Chopra and Vipin Sharma showcase their great acting talent as Ishaan's parents, and never for one moment can you find a flaw in their act. Also a praising word for Sachet Engineer, who plays Ishaan's elder brother. He delivers a fine acting feat.
Taare Zameen Par should be viewed obligatorily by each and every citizen of India. It is highly inspirational and in the real sense of the word, an eye-opener. This one is my personal all-time favorite. Go watch it.

RATING: A stunning 4.5/5 for flawless plot, finest acting, and a very enlightening message.