by Sneha Hazarika

Cast- Aamir Khan, Darsheel Safary, Tisca Chopra
Director- Aamir Khan
Rating- **** (Outstanding)

Aamir Khan is considered to be one of the finest actors that the country has produced, who remains in a special league of his own, someone who has complete understanding of cinema.

Considering his films 'Lagaan', ‘Dil Chahta Hai', ‘Rang De Basanti', even ‘Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander' so many years back and now this, you sure know why. With ‘Taare Zameen Par', Aamir turns director and with what success!

The film is special because it delves into a child's world with sensitivity and deals with the insightful issue of a dyslexic child with sensitivity and maturity.

The child Ishaan played by Darsheel Safary (amazingly convincing) is special in the sense that his world is not confined to books, homework, sports and everything else that normal schools and parents impose on children.

He is more into discovering the mysteries of the real world and is intrigued by things happening around him and lets his imagination run wild. But unfortunately neither his parents nor his teachers who ready children for the cut throat competition are able to decipher this and understand him.

He is packed off to a boarding school to be made ‘normal' like the rest. He is shattered and feels completely out of place and lonely as he is unable to cope with the separation from his parents as well his new surroundings where the taunts and the punishments for his ‘handicap' continue.

Enter Ramshankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan) who empathizes with the child, understands him, recognizes the gift in him and helps him to regain his confidence.

In the process putting forth a strong message that children should be treated with care, empathy and that- ‘Every child is special' (so true to it's tagline) and true to it's title too that childhood is special and that 'children are like stars on earth'.

Aamir has emerged triumphant as a director with this movie. He has handled many sequences in the film brilliantly and manages to strike a chord with the audiences. There are many sequences in the movie that can leave you moist eyed and this includes the climax.

The film has no commercial trappings, yet can even appeal to the average viewer. Not to forget the fact that creative director and writer Amol Gupte's years of research with 'children of different abilities' assists Aamir in a big away.

The performances are brilliant and Darsheel Safary is effortless and natural. Aamir Khan only makes an appearance just before the interval and lets the kid take centre stage. And the child doesn't disappoint. Aamir plays his character with conviction and a lot of feeling.

Same goes for Tisca Chopra who is amazing on screen. The other child actors (especially Ishaan's brother and friend) are quite efficient too. Vipin Sharma who plays the father is a little loud though.

Shankar- Ehsaan- Loy's music goes with the mood of the film. Prasoon Joshi's lyrics deserve special mention as they are quite touching (especially ‘Maa' and the title song). The cinematography, editing, the production design, the graphics and animation – everything provides able support to the project.

This film has it all- a soul, it scores on all possible counts and drives home a message. Also sees the emergence of an efficient director, one to watch out for, in the form of Aamir Khan. All this makes it a must see.