Taare Zameen Par

I rave about so many movies, and lesser ones at that, so it is only fair that I rave about this one too. But chances are, you have already seen it or will be seeing it pretty soon.

Taare Zameen Par is easily the best Hindi movie this year, and one of the best in the last several years. If one overlooks the simplified symbolism or some cliched characterization, this is a masterpiece of a debut (if one discounts allegations of Aamir Khan's interference in the direction of his movies as far back as 1992 with Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar). The cast, especially Darsheel Safary and Tisca Chopra, is amazing. I had appreciated the fairly realistic small-town portrayal in Aaja Nachle a few weeks back. But the authentic manner in which an upper middle-class family from Mumbai is portrayed here is quite rare for a mainstream Indian film. Makes one think how one of Indian cinema's most successful (and hence one of the more affluent ones) film personalities can do such a good job in doing that. And Prasoon Joshi's lyrics reach heights maybe even Gulzar's could not in a movie like this!


I haven't met one person till now who hasn't loved the movie. Another rarity for a Hindi film. And more people confess to have cried while watching this than any other movie till now.

In recent times, and in fact, coincidentally, thanks in no small measure to a film made by the same production house that has made this film, any good Hindi film has been touted as an Oscar potential. I don't think this movie should be sent for the Oscars, even though it is the best of the year, because this is a very Indian movie and should not be insulted by making it try hard to be appreciated by a predominantly American jury.