Movie Review

After having almost finished my 2nd year, I should have amassed enough knowledge to critically comment on the world in general. As is constantly reiterated, we are not just being taught one novel but Eng (Hons) is an attempt to open up our minds to different perspectives and layers that are buried beneath each sentence or word. Assuming this to be the case I should be qualified enough to comment sensibly on a movie. Having placed my dubious credentials before you, I begin. Tareen Zameen Par. This was the movies name. Literally, it can be translated as stars on the ground. The title itself is open to various interpretations but the most common understanding of this would perhaps be ornaments of great value in an environment common for all of us mortals.

The story required sensitive handling and the attempt is visible. Aamir Khan tried desperately to make us understand Dyslexia. A disease that we were, possibly, only vaguely familiar with when we entered the Theater. The first half of the movie is almost solely devoted to the symptoms of the disease and how the child in the story is grossly misunderstood. Helpful if your friendly neighborhood delinquent has been showing some of the same symptoms. However, a majority of the audience voiced the words ‘it’s dragging’ with annoying consistency. Tears dutifully made their appearance when the child is shipped off to a boarding school in order to cure him of his ‘laziness’.

The school, predictably, is unable to help him but a guardian angel in the ‘roop’ of Aamir Khan makes his entry and finally diagnoses the dreaded mental illness. We are then subjected to various examples of people who were ‘special’ and subsequently misunderstood. Albert Einstein, Da Vinci and the like are cited as examples of people whose brains functioned on a different plane from the average mans. It makes us feel most ashamed and rightfully proud of the little boy who is shown to ferociously battle the harsh world. A little bit of envy is possibly also provoked when we realize that us normal mortals can never truly think like the ‘extraordinary’. The human brain is truly a remarkable instrument.

After much boo-hooing on the audience’s part and intense hard work on the little boys, we finally glide towards the climax where the triumphant boy is recognized for his supernatural skill. Ah, we sigh happily and sink back into reality with our tummy full of undigested popcorn and harmful soda. A movie that pushes you into an unpleasant world but finishes with a feel-good aka Bollywood style ending. The only possible glaring flaw in the conception of the movie would be to elevate the protagonist into someone with almost a superhuman mind which was capable of unique and original thought. We may like to believe that each patient of Dyslexia has been blessed and perhaps been compensated by a power that is beyond the reach of most individuals. But I think in reality we may find that to be a huge exaggeration of facts. In other words, are we saying that if this little boy had NOT been blessed with extra facilities then the world and his parents would have continued to reject him? Are we saying that it is okay to be ‘special’ as long as you are special enough to be construed as positive by society?
I am sure this is not the message that was supposed to have been supported and I don’t know how many people will view it this way but it was something that should have been ironed out in the conception of the film.

All in all, I would still pronounce the movie as a success as it was able to start discussions on an issue that has perhaps been ignored for far too long. It was also able to provoke reactions from an audience and touch people on an emotional level. This is what cinema is about, reaching out and perhaps giving someone out there some food for thought after the direct experience is over. By that standard, the movie was a roaring success in my book! Kudos!

:)