Let me start out by saying that very few movies are directed with this much care and attention. It is a simple story of a young boy who struggles everyday at school for the smallest and simplest things. His teachers are in a rush to teach him, but he can't learn. His parents are desperate for him to be as successful as his older brother, but he has no interest in success per say. Ishaan Awasthi is more interested in seeing magic in his day-to-day life. He sees things in a different light, his world consists of the simplest joys, watching the most mundane things around him and bringing life to all he sees around him.
As the movie unfolds, you can't understand if this kid is being difficult or if he simply doesn't care. You really feel the frustrations of those around him and you even feel his frustrations against those around him. He's deemed Unlucky by the principal of his school and his parents are asked to take him to a school for "special children".
The scene in which they parents are driving back from school, the father is immensely frustrated and is ready to do anything it takes to prove that his son is not a retard. Mr. Awasthi thinks his child is simply being difficult.
He stares down his dad as he's told that he has to go to a special needs school and his dad has no sympathy for him. His father calls in a favor and Ishaan is sent to a boarding school a few hours away from home, but he is to stay there and be disciplined.
The deep sadness in his eyes as his parents drive away breaks your heart into pieces. You can see abandonment, anger, love, hatred, frustration and disgust all at once. You can see him slowly falling-apart because he thinks he's not wanted. You can also see how desperately he controls himself from running after the car. His frustrations and hurts are further vocalized in the beautiful song Meri Maa.
Mein Kabhi batlata nahin...
Par andhere se darta hoon mein maa
Yun to mein dikhlata nahin...
Teri parvah karta hoon mein maa
Tujhe sab hai pata, haina ma
Tujhe sab hai pata, meri maa
Once again, he is attacked by his teachers at this new school, where he's considered an outcast and a bit of a pain. The teachers are well aware of Ishan being difficult and therefore have no sympathy for him. He faces the same challenges in his new school. Ishan begans to shut down and is slowly falling into depression due to his frustrations at school being compounded by the separation from his family.
Aamir Khan makes his appearance right before the Interval, as "Nikumbh Sir". He is a temporary arts teacher and he is able to identify the problem that Ishaan is dealing with as Dyslexia.
He then goes to Ishaan's parents house on his day-off to discuss with them what Dyslexia means. This scene is highlighted by the title song which fits the place and time superbly. The lyrics by Prasoon Joshi weave magic with the music by Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, and the singing by Shankar Mahadevan adds icing to an already delicious cake.
The scene where Nikumbh Sir goes to the Awasthi household and confronts them with the situation is priceless, especially when he gives Mr. Awasthi a Japanese board game and asks him to read Japanese and then reprimands him for not sincerely trying. In this scene you see one of the most powerful and the most natural interaction seen on silver screen between all the characters.
Upon his return Nikumbh goes on to tell his class that there were many brilliant and famous people in this world who were Dyslexic, Leonardo DaVinci, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Agatha Christie, Walt Disney, Pablo Picasso, and even Abhishekh Bachchan. He gives the message to the 10-year old students at their level, without being preachy. When the class is over, he goes over to Ishaan and confides in him that he himself was Dyslexic. Nikumbh goes on to talk to the Principal of the school and proposes that a few small measures be taken when teaching Ishaan. The Principal agrees after a little apprehension. Thus begins a quest to teach Ishaan a way around his Dyslexia and sharpen his motor skills so he can enjoy the things he loves the most--art and painting.
The next powerful scene takes place when Mr. Awasthi (Ishan's father) comes to visit Ishaan, but first meets Nikumbh to tell him that they as a family care about Ishaan and his wife has been doing lots of reasearch online. Nikumbh's annoyance shows through an anecdote he shares with Mr. Awasthi about what it really means to care. This scene elevates the film to a new level, by sharing an emotion that is seldom acknowledged by Indian parents. It shows us that our culture is becoming more and more concerned about the performance of our children in their daily activities, without paying attention to a more organic need for affection.
Nikumbh organizes an Art Competition, inviting students and staff to have fun with painting and drawing. Most of us moviegoers by now have an idea of what the ending will be, but we are still at the edge of our seat waiting to see what happens next. At the Art Fair Ishaan wins first prize, while Nikumbh is declared the runner up.
As the end of the school year approaches, Ishaan's parents come to meet with the teachers and are speechless when told that their son has excelled in most every subject and what a bright and cheerful kid he is. The breakdown of Mr. Awasthi when he sees Nikumbh and thanks him is brilliantly done. And Ishaan is dressed similar to Nikumbh from head to toe...as most children do when they idealize someone...
The story is very well done and the topic is not over-dramatized.
With that said, there are a few elements of this great movie that could have made it even more enjoyable. Aamir Khan couldn't resist adding the Bollywood spiciness that is simply unnecessary. The scene where Aamir Khan makes an entrance is not needed. It could have been done a simpler way. For instance, it could have been where he comes in like a teacher rather than a clown. Aamir didn't need to be a temporary teacher. He could have just been a regular teacher who volunteers at the Tulip's school for Special Needs children, as his way of giving back to his community. This would have further highlighted his motive to help out Ishaan. Again, these are minor inconveniences, but in a movie that is put together so well, these are silly oversights.
Go see this incredible movie with your children and you are sure to look at them in a different light...
As the movie unfolds, you can't understand if this kid is being difficult or if he simply doesn't care. You really feel the frustrations of those around him and you even feel his frustrations against those around him. He's deemed Unlucky by the principal of his school and his parents are asked to take him to a school for "special children".
The scene in which they parents are driving back from school, the father is immensely frustrated and is ready to do anything it takes to prove that his son is not a retard. Mr. Awasthi thinks his child is simply being difficult.
He stares down his dad as he's told that he has to go to a special needs school and his dad has no sympathy for him. His father calls in a favor and Ishaan is sent to a boarding school a few hours away from home, but he is to stay there and be disciplined.
The deep sadness in his eyes as his parents drive away breaks your heart into pieces. You can see abandonment, anger, love, hatred, frustration and disgust all at once. You can see him slowly falling-apart because he thinks he's not wanted. You can also see how desperately he controls himself from running after the car. His frustrations and hurts are further vocalized in the beautiful song Meri Maa.
Mein Kabhi batlata nahin...
Par andhere se darta hoon mein maa
Yun to mein dikhlata nahin...
Teri parvah karta hoon mein maa
Tujhe sab hai pata, haina ma
Tujhe sab hai pata, meri maa
Once again, he is attacked by his teachers at this new school, where he's considered an outcast and a bit of a pain. The teachers are well aware of Ishan being difficult and therefore have no sympathy for him. He faces the same challenges in his new school. Ishan begans to shut down and is slowly falling into depression due to his frustrations at school being compounded by the separation from his family.
Aamir Khan makes his appearance right before the Interval, as "Nikumbh Sir". He is a temporary arts teacher and he is able to identify the problem that Ishaan is dealing with as Dyslexia.
He then goes to Ishaan's parents house on his day-off to discuss with them what Dyslexia means. This scene is highlighted by the title song which fits the place and time superbly. The lyrics by Prasoon Joshi weave magic with the music by Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, and the singing by Shankar Mahadevan adds icing to an already delicious cake.
The scene where Nikumbh Sir goes to the Awasthi household and confronts them with the situation is priceless, especially when he gives Mr. Awasthi a Japanese board game and asks him to read Japanese and then reprimands him for not sincerely trying. In this scene you see one of the most powerful and the most natural interaction seen on silver screen between all the characters.
Upon his return Nikumbh goes on to tell his class that there were many brilliant and famous people in this world who were Dyslexic, Leonardo DaVinci, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Agatha Christie, Walt Disney, Pablo Picasso, and even Abhishekh Bachchan. He gives the message to the 10-year old students at their level, without being preachy. When the class is over, he goes over to Ishaan and confides in him that he himself was Dyslexic. Nikumbh goes on to talk to the Principal of the school and proposes that a few small measures be taken when teaching Ishaan. The Principal agrees after a little apprehension. Thus begins a quest to teach Ishaan a way around his Dyslexia and sharpen his motor skills so he can enjoy the things he loves the most--art and painting.
The next powerful scene takes place when Mr. Awasthi (Ishan's father) comes to visit Ishaan, but first meets Nikumbh to tell him that they as a family care about Ishaan and his wife has been doing lots of reasearch online. Nikumbh's annoyance shows through an anecdote he shares with Mr. Awasthi about what it really means to care. This scene elevates the film to a new level, by sharing an emotion that is seldom acknowledged by Indian parents. It shows us that our culture is becoming more and more concerned about the performance of our children in their daily activities, without paying attention to a more organic need for affection.
Nikumbh organizes an Art Competition, inviting students and staff to have fun with painting and drawing. Most of us moviegoers by now have an idea of what the ending will be, but we are still at the edge of our seat waiting to see what happens next. At the Art Fair Ishaan wins first prize, while Nikumbh is declared the runner up.
As the end of the school year approaches, Ishaan's parents come to meet with the teachers and are speechless when told that their son has excelled in most every subject and what a bright and cheerful kid he is. The breakdown of Mr. Awasthi when he sees Nikumbh and thanks him is brilliantly done. And Ishaan is dressed similar to Nikumbh from head to toe...as most children do when they idealize someone...
The story is very well done and the topic is not over-dramatized.
With that said, there are a few elements of this great movie that could have made it even more enjoyable. Aamir Khan couldn't resist adding the Bollywood spiciness that is simply unnecessary. The scene where Aamir Khan makes an entrance is not needed. It could have been done a simpler way. For instance, it could have been where he comes in like a teacher rather than a clown. Aamir didn't need to be a temporary teacher. He could have just been a regular teacher who volunteers at the Tulip's school for Special Needs children, as his way of giving back to his community. This would have further highlighted his motive to help out Ishaan. Again, these are minor inconveniences, but in a movie that is put together so well, these are silly oversights.
Go see this incredible movie with your children and you are sure to look at them in a different light...
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