Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Taare Zameen Par: Kya Hai Problem, Kyun Tera Bheja Kum?

Idiot, Duffer, Lazy, Crazy; Kyun Karte Nahi Try, Why, Why Why,Why Can’t YOU???…Akshar Jo Nache, Kya Khayi Hai Bhaang?

Not all fingers are the same length,but how we sometimes wish them to be. Then again, its God’s creation, and there’s a reason for it. What a thumb is capable of doing, other fingers can’t do. Just like that, TZP is about opening our minds to things other than academia and its pressure. Your destiny is where your true happiness lies.

Following the steps of an elder brother who is perfect in studies, as well as a tennis champ, can sometimes be hard to fall in the same footsteps. Top that with failing 3rd Standard once. As the teacher asks Ishaan (Darsheel Safary) to read a paragraph from the text, all that comes out are the dancing letters in a language that really isn’t. But the importance of staying in a classroom and learning is all forgotten as more and more time is spent outside the class in punishment; faking burps and moon dancing in the cooridors. The world is perfect as long as there is day dreaming, cathcing fishes and lots of painting to be done even with failing tests and getting into fights with the other guys. As his parents send him to boarding school to bring in ‘discipline’ and fix the boy up, something inside him closes up. A substitute teacher Ram Shankar Nikhumb (Aamir Khan) sees Ishaan and wants to help him help himself.

If Aamir Khan the actor is labelled as a perfectionist, then I don’t know what to label Aamir Khan the director. I’ll leave the labelling to others. The first half is a little slow, but it lays a foundation that ensures that Ishaan is thoroughly understood by the viewers. Of what he is and what he is not.

The music need not hold the film together, but it does. Prasing Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy and lycrisist Prasoon Joshi would be adding salt to the wound. Duniya ka naara, jame raho.
Imagine if life were really all of academics and getting good grades, where would Sachin R. Tendulkar be today, for that, where would the Indian Cricket Team come from, most of them, barring a few, don’t hold degrees, probably don’t even have great handwriting, but see where they are today. Where would Shah Rukh Khan, Big B, and the endless list of brilliant actors be? Musicians, artists, businessmen, where would they be, if all that mattered was written in books just to be regurgitated?

…Bhej na itna door mujhko tu, yaad bhi tujhko aa na pao Maa;
Bhed mein yun choodo mujhe, ghar laut ke bhi aa na pao Maa;
Kya itna bura hoon mein Maa?
Tujhe sab hai pata, hai na Maa?