TAARE ZAMEEN PAR - Review

TAARE ZAMEEN PAR

A perfect movie for all to watch from a perfectionist. The movie was initially watched by people as something that was more motivated by curiosity rather than for the main subject. The curiosity kindled by the fact that it is the Directorial debut of the versatile actor Aamir Khan.

What is in the movie that it is being talked about so much by all the viewers? Anyone who has watched the movie has to rant and rave about it and also urge the people who haven’t seen it to take themselves to view this splendorous movie.

Okay so here I come to the subject. It talks about the emotional churning of a Dyslexic child who is left alone with this inability that he himself is ignorant about. He was after-all a kid, but what about the grown-ups around him? Who has the time (be it the parents or the teachers at school) to analyze the reasons for a child’s poor performance at the classroom level. That is precisely where Aamir draws the attention of all the viewers and the “Parents” at large.

In the movie it is specified that “Every child is Special”...that doesn’t limit itself to children who may have some disabilities but children in general. As Aamir points out in one of the dialogues…all the fingers of our palm are not of the same size or shape. So parents need to go slow with their kids at their learning stage and slowly mould them to the shape that they are willing to be moulded into. We can see in the movie what the hostile and unfriendly atmosphere can do the sensitive and emotionally fragile heart of a child.

It is here, when the energetic, fun loving child Ishaan retreats into the shell of timidness and low self-esteem and loss of confidence, that Ram Shankar Nikumbh very carefully and fragilely guides the boy’s attention to the fact that he was not the only one to face the problems that he had gone through. This he very easily does by listing out the names of those very famous and prominent entities as Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci and many others and finally his name only to Ishaan in secrecy. That catapults the little boy’s confidence back to its peak and he slowly rises coping up with his disability with the help, care and love of Nikumbh sir.

When Ishaan’s father comes to meet Ram Shankar Nikhumb and tells him that they as parents too are worried for their child, Ram just puts a few simple questions to him that shake the entire foundation of concern for their little son!! He’s asked by Nikhumb sir, what is meant by being concerned for a child? It is a hug, a kiss, to say that “son I’m there for you”…..

The dialogue that hits straight at us for the insensitivity that we as adults show towards our children is when we use abusive language to drive home their failures or inability is the one about “Solomon Islands”. Is it not the same thing that we do to our children? Scold them using abusive language and kill their sensitive, inquisitive happy-go-lucky characteristics to prepare them for the harsh world of tomorrow thwarting their today to something that leaves a scar for a lifetime?

Think over these aspects….this is not jus an entertaining movie of three hours that one can just watch and walk out. It makes you think and ponder and respond to your own faults as parents, teachers and all the other elderly roles that you play.

Towards the end, the scene in the movie, when Ishaan wins the drawing competition and he’s given standing ovation he can’t believe the scene. He runs crying into the safe and carefree zone of his loving friend, guide and teacher. Children respond with jet-speed to love than to strict and harsh actions or words. The last scene only proves this. Ishaan is a happy-go-lucky boy now and the old Ishaan surfaces again this time only with renewed confidence. He runs to Nikumbh sir before he boards the car home. The scene is that Aamir tosses him in the air..a symbol of final freedom of the boy’s soul from the clutches of inefficiency and failure towards a flying start to success.

So it’s a tale of effective parenting, a tale of insensitivity in our Indian educational scenario, and a tale of love of teachers who think and work for their students…..

Last but not the least….the music is very apt and touching and touches the very cores of our hearts. It is a major link in arousing the feelings of love, empathy and sensitivity throughout the film.

A must watch for all cine lovers and also those who watch very few but good movies.

* This review is written & submitted by Priya Sharma.

* All rights reserved: Read2Help

© 2008 PRIYA SHARMA & TARUN PATEL

Review of the movie "Tare Zameen Par" by Dhruv Joshi

This review of the movie "Tare Zameen Par" has been written and submitted by Dhruv Joshi.

Review of "Tare Zameen Par"

The film made by the perfectionist Aamir Khan is certainly a cinematic masterpiece. A simple and sensitive tale is extremely well directed by the debut director. The biggest strength of the film is its script, that we all can relate with.

The movie revolves around the story of a dyslexic boy, Ishan Avasthi, and his struggle with the world inside and outside him. The film brings out the weaker side of our society where children are seen as a tool to increase their parents’ social standing. It stresses on freeing the children from all those burdens which hampers their joy of childhood. “race mein dodana hi tha to ghode ko hi palte, bachche peda kiye hi kyun?” this dialogue from a frustrated art teacher Ram kumar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan) conveys the message loud and clear.

The first half is largely covered by the hero Ishan Avasthi who despite efforts can not pass in any of his subjects. He has already failed once in third standard. His parents thinking that he is too careless about his studies, decides to put him in a boarding school. Mr. Nandakishor Avasthi, Ishan’s father, thinks that by sending Ishan to a boarding school, his studies will improve. However his hopes turn out to be false again. Ishan becomes very sad due to his separation from his family. For some time in the film he almost becomes speechless. The situation of a child away from its mother and home is poignant and the director has done enough justice with its sensitivity with the help of wonderful lyrics from Prasoon Joshi and light music by Shankar-Ehasaan-Loy.

Just before the intermission there comes a new art teacher in boarding school of Panchgani, Ram kumar Nikumbh. Nikumbh finds all the symptoms of dyslexia in Ishaan. He is determined to bring Ishan’s life on right track as he himself had been a dyslexic as a child. He finds that Ishaan is very angry with himself as well as with his family but refrains from expressing it.

He goes to Ishaan’s parents and informs them about the problem. There he finds out that Ishaan is very much fond of painting. Nikumbh, by telling stories of dyslexic yet highly successful people, restores Ishaan’s self confidence. Giving example of Thomas alva Edison, he told Ishaan that don’t switch off the light “Edison bhai ki roshni hum pe padati rahe” this is subtle but very significant dialogue of the film. The film offers you many moments when your eyes will get moist.

By helping Ishaan to fight his battle Nikumbh shows us a duty of the teacher. The film is also satirical about our education system, and the negligence towards new ideas. “dimaag unke zara hatke the, phir bhi who jeete aur aisa jeete ki duniya dekhti rah gayi” this dialogue keeps ringing in the minds of the audiences and fills them with surge of indomitable energy.

The last scene is the most well-shot scene of the film, Ishaan wins the painting competition, beating his guru, who had made Ishaan’s smiling portrait. While going home for vacation Ishaan rushes to Nikumbh and he lifts the boy to the sky with his hands wide open, ready and eager to FLY!

A MUST WATCH MOVIE FOR EVERY PERSON…….

© 2008 DHRUV JOSHI & TARUN PATEL