Sitaare Zameen Par movie review
Taare Zameen Par, a famous movie starring Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, is known for its delicate portrayal of children’s minds and was also a big hit at the box office. Aamir Khan is back with the sequel, the emotional drama Sitaare Zameen Par, 18 years after the first one. Check out our review to know if this much-awaited movie has succeeded in winning the audience’s hearts like its predecessor, as it releases globally today.
Story:
Gulshan Arora (Aamir Khan) is an assistant coach for the Delhi basketball squad. Gulshan’s short temper and other bad habits get him into a lot of trouble. Gulshan is captured by the police on a day when he was drunk driving. The court tells him to coach a squad of young athletes who have autism, invisible autism, Down’s Syndrome, and Fragile X Syndrome as punishment. What problems does Gulshan have to deal with while coaching a squad that has learning disabilities? What problems does he have with his wife, Sunita (Genelia)? What unexpected things does Gulshan find out? What does he end up doing with this group? This is the key point of Sitaare Zameen Par’s narrative.
Plus Point:
People who have already seen Taare Zameen Par may not find the story of Sitaare Zameen Par very different. But the feelings in SZP are very different. The film beautifully presents the theme of young individuals with Down Syndrome and other intellectual difficulties achieving success when they set their minds to it.
The pacing of the narrative in the first half is quick and engaging and holds the audience’s attention. However, there are a few moments in the second half when the director seems to have lost focus. The challenges Gulshan faces as a basketball coach for the young team with intellectual difficulties are well depicted.
Aamir Khan’s performance as a coach who is determined to make his ‘unusual’ team win is fabulous. The emotional arc of his relationship with his wife, Sunita, is handled with depth. The climax in particular is quite emotional and offers a satisfying conclusion to this emotional drama.
Minus Points:
Having witnessed the critical and commercial success of Taare Zameen Par, fans of the prequel may find Sitaare Zameen Par lacking in comparison. Despite the presence of emotional content, the sequel fails to leave a lasting impression on the audience.
While films like Sitaare Zameen Par don’t necessarily need to focus on entertainment, the emotional mark should definitely not be missed by such movies. In SZP’s case, the backstories of certain characters are treated way too lightly.
In addition, the way Gulshan interacts with a young team dealing with learning difficulties doesn’t connect with the audience. The bond between the coach and his team develops only in the climax, which may be too late to impress the audience. Scenes featuring the hero’s wife and mother seem to let the film down.
Technical Aspects:
Director RS Prasanna does a fine job handling the emotional drama, but he could have focused more on the screenplay and tightened some of the lackluster scenes. The cinematography is solid, while the music, though decent, doesn’t feature any standout tracks, which played a key role in the success of Taare Zameen Par. The editing could have been crisper in a few scenes. The production values are quite good.
Also Read: Tourist Family Movie Review: A Heartfelt Family Drama Worth Watching
Verdict:
On the whole, Sitaare Zameen Par manages to appeal to a niche audience with its strong emotional drama and solid performances. However, if you go in expecting a film on the same level as Taare Zameen Par, you might be left slightly disappointed. The film slows down in certain places, which could deter the audience’s attention. However, for those who watch the film with no preconceived expectations, Sitaare Zameen Par will likely be an enjoyable emotional journey.
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