Sitaare Zameen Par

Sitaare Zameen Par is an absolute heart-stealer! As an Aamir Khan admirer, I went in with sky-high expectations, and I wasn't disappoint! Film is funny, emotional, and so inspiring! Aamir Khan's portrayal of Gulshan is so good! He plays a confident but flawed basketball coach who has to train a group of neurodivergent players. At first, he's like, "why me?" but soon he grows to love his team, calling them "my stars!" His journey feels so real and heartfelt. He's got that classic Aamir charm but with a raw, relatable edge. Each one sitaares are real MVPs. You'll totally love Satbir, Golu, Hargovind, and the whole team! Their scenes are so fun, making you laugh hard one moment and cry the next. The supporting cast, like Genelia, Dolly Ahluwalia and Brijendra Kala, adds such warmth and fun. The story, a remake of Champions, feels fresh for Bollywood, tackling inclusion with a big heart without being preachy. Sure, the second half drags a tiny bit, and it doesn't hit the Taare Zameen Par level of perfection (what could?!), but it's such a feel-good ride. It's like a warm hug that reminds you everyone's normal is beautiful. If you don't go to the theatre expecting TZP 2 then you will enjoy it more. Mr. Perfectionist is finally back after years.

SZP is a Masterpiece... Brilliant. Gripping. Heartfelt. Unforgettable.

Aamir Khan delivers yet another cinematic triumph... A tour de force performance backed by soul-stirring storytelling.

It takes real courage to make a film like this. Hats off to #AamirKhan & his team ,He's amazing in the movie - his acting, the way he delivers dialogues, everything is top class.

I really liked that he showed his real age on screen, Genelia D'Souza is a delight!

And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, the 2nd half came as a surprise-and it surpasses the 1st half! The laugh riot scenes, especially the sequence with Aamir's mother, all the players' shenanigans, and everything else - brilliant presentation, man!

Like "Taara Zameen Par,' the film delivers an important message on the specialty of every individual. This time the film delves into the world of mentally challenged individuals with a homophobic coach to train their team for a basketball tournament. The story carried an interest. But alas, the expectations on emotions weren't met this time. The ease with which the situations are handled don't match the nuances of Aamir Khan's earlier movies like "Taare Zameen Par," "Dangal," or "Secret Superstar." Despite a sensitive subject it chooses, the deliverance drops into a passable fare than a memorable piece of cinema that every Aamir Khan's movie proved to be in recent years.

Rating: 1.5 stars out of 4.

Watching Sitare Zameen Par is like stepping into True Detective Season 2 - a valiant attempt to recreate something unforgettable, but ultimately burdened by the shadow of its own legacy.

Just like True Detective's first season, Taare Zameen Par was a near-perfect blend of emotion, subtlety, and originality. It didn't scream; it whispered - and in those whispers, it told a story so universally touching that it redefined how we saw childhood, learning disorders, and even parenting.

Sitare Zameen Par, like True Detective Season 2, has all the tools: a solid premise, an emotional backbone, and a creator who clearly cares. It tries to explore similar themes of empathy and personal growth - but while it's good, maybe even very good in parts, it lacks the quiet magic and raw honesty that made the original so timeless.

Where Taare Zameen Par flowed like poetry, Sitare often feels like a script trying to recapture past glory. The heart is there, but it's a little more manufactured, a little more self-aware. It's louder, flashier, and less intimate - and as a result, it doesn't hit you in the gut the way Ishaan's story did.

So yes, Sitare Zameen Par is commendable - just like Season 2 of True Detective had its own charm and ambition. But when you're chasing the impossible standard set by a masterpiece, even good can feel like not enough.

⭐ Verdict: Worth a watch. But if you're expecting the same emotional transcendence as Taare Zameen Par, manage your expectations. Lightning rarely strikes the same place twice.

Gulshan is a junior coach to Delhi basketball team and clashes with the head coach during a losing match. The physical altercation with the head coach gets him suspended and to make things worse, he gets involved in a drunk and drive accident. He is sentenced to do community service to avoid jail term and is asked to coach the basketball team of specially abled. Gulshan is already in a rocky relationship with his wife Suneetha who wants to have a kid and Gulshan has his insecurities. How does Gulshan own up to his mistakes and start taking responsibility, starting with his team and what impact do these bunch have on him, forms rest of the story.

I liked the Spanish original and not so much it's sequel or even the American remake. I was skeptical about watching this loyal remake, fearing I wouldn't be able to appreciate in comparison with the original. However, R. S. Prasanna and Divy Nidhi Sharma have done a phenomenal job in adapting the film and especially the light hearted humor remain the best thing about this film. Next, it is the solid casting which does the trick and it is easy to connect to all these characters. R. S. Prasanna strikes a superb balance between humor and emotional scenes though it does get preachy a lot. With Aamir in the forefront, there was no chance of them going wrong with the remake. His honest performance is just too good and his comic timing is impeccable. I would rate it leniently solely because I ended up enjoying this as much as I enjoyed the original and that alone deserves the applause.