A Really Amazing Movie-"Like Stars on Earth" (Taare Zameen Par)

You have got to find this one!!!!

You won’t have to have had the experience of having a child with a learning disability to love this movie. But, if you have a child that has struggled with learning, whether it be just that it is just harder for them or if there is a real learning disability you need to watch this movie. The movie is entitled “Like Stars on Earth” (Taare Zameen Par) and it was released in 2007 in India. Now don’t let that put you off!!!! Not only are there sub-titles, but there is a really well done English dub if you don’t want to read the sub-titles.

The story is about an adorable boy named Ishaan who at 8 years old loves to explore the wonders of the world around him. He is played phenomenally by Darsheel Safary. He loves to draw and paint and is extremely good at it. He has a loving family, especially his older brother. However, he is failing in school. He has already failed the 3rd level and is about to fail it again. The teachers have no patience for him and his misbehaving. His father finally decides that what is needed is for Ishaan to go to a boarding school for more discipline. He is completely devastated, both emotionally and physiologically at having been abandoned, at least in his mind, by his family.

His mother is completely gutted buy this separation also, but doesn’t really have much say in the matter unfortunately. Ishaan is completely unresponsive to anything at this new school as he is too emotionally dead.

Tanay Chheda

He does make a new friend, Rajan, played by Tanay Chheda, who you may recognize from “My Name is Khan”, and “Slumdog Millionaire”. He is really good in this also.

Luckily, the fill-in teacher, Mr. Ram Shankar Nikumbh, (played by the amazing Aamir Khan), recognizes in Ishaan, the same traits that he had as a child and realizes that Ishaan suffers from dyslexia.

 


Aamir Khan-amazing!

Now with the proper diagnosis he is able to get through to Ishaan and help him learn.

It is rare that there are so many stand-out performances in a movie. Aamir Khan, who also directed this movie, is the best Indian actor, or, I feel one of the best actors anywhere.

Yet he is not too big to let the child actor in this movie shine. Darsheel Safary is truly amazing.


I am excited to see another movie with him in. He was so sweet and innocent in this. Darsheel is a great actor and Khan is a really great director of children, because you really felt the feelings of despair, frustration, depression, and also pure joy and happiness that Ishaan experienced throughout this movie.

The first hour was hard and frustrating emotionally for me but to see Ishaan blossom in the end is worth the tears shed in the first half. OK there were also tears in the second half but they were happy tears.
                                                                                                                            
PLEASE find this movie and watch it!!!! I got it on Netflix and loved it so much I did buy it.  So you can borrow it from me if you are here in Mesa.  It is truly beautiful and you will want to see more of Aamir Khan’s films. Here are a few of my favorites of his: 
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time In India-The BEST!!!!
Dil Chahta Hai-really good!
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (Modern Indian Romeo and Juliet)
Fanaa
Ghajini (a bit too violent but a good movie)