I have a strange fascination for all movies Bollywood (and I blame it on my childhood)...especially since I do not speak a word of Hindi. As a kid, I was predisposed to old Tamil and Hindi movies as my grandmother would be glued to the drama, tears, song and dance on our old black & white.
Back to TZP (http://www.taarezameenpar.com/). The movie was about an 8-year old boy Ishaan, (played by the incredibly talented Darsheel Safary) whose only interest is art, colours and his imagination, as opposed to schoolwork, games and exams. His parents packed him off to boarding school, thinking he's too playful, thus sending the child into depression, isolating himself from the rest of the world. One day, a new art teacher, Ram Nikumbh (played by Aamir Khan) joins the school, and teaches the children to think, dream, draw out of the box, using their imagination. Teacher Ram discovers that the sullen and silent Ishaan has dyslexia and with time, patience, love and care, he helps the boy discovers his true potential.
TZP is not a kids' movie but a movie about kids...kids with special needs, who are misunderstood and rejected by society. The second half of the movie was extremely touching and my box of Kleenex depleted quite quickly. Ishaan, having slid into depression at the boarding school, barely had any dialogue, but Darsheel's brilliant emo-logue spoke from the very soul of a child who was trying to grasp what his problem was, and why his parents did not 'love' him anymore.
Later I found out Aamir Khan directed and produced TZP. Wow! Not only is Aamir an exceptional actor, but he is also one heck of a director and producer.
A great film is one that rakes in tons of money at the box-office.
A phenomenal film is one that transcends all cultures, languages and religions, and unites our hearts and minds.
If you haven't watched TZP, go watch it. It will change your perspective of Bollywood movies forever.
(picture taken from www.taarezameenpar.com)
