moviebuff81

Cosmos is the greatest non-fiction series I have ever seen. It is the greatest collection of scientific knowledge and insights of a great man, Carl Sagan.

It would be disrespectful to call Cosmos just a documentary as it has been a life and perspective-changing experience for me. Carl Sagan takes us on a beautiful voyage not only across our universe but also encourages us to examine ourselves. Considering that I am writing this in 2008, it tells you how impactful it still is 28 years after Cosmos was first made.

This one is for keeps!

Let me start by saying that this is the first film that I'm writing a negative review for. But what else can I say about this much anticipated film? It is not only a waste of time, but a waste of talent and a potentially good story and screenplay.

There are other reviews on this page that give a brief description of the plot, however I can summarise by saying that it is a tale of a family engulfed in a mire of politics and scandal. It is heavily inspired by the true story of the Enron power plant fiasco in Maharashtra, featuring Bal Thackeray and Rebecca Mark-Jusbasche (from Enron).

So why does this film fail? Ram Gopal Verma took a bold step in directing a sequel to a very successful and well-made film called Sarkar. I am a great fan of the Godfather and even though Sarkar draws heavily from it, it was still an enjoyable film, especially in an Indian setting. Sarkar Raj, however, is loud and poorly written. The camera angles are incomprehensible and so is the choice of some of the actors and their characters. One of the most ridiculous dialogues in the film goes something like "Electricity is made to give shocks"...or something on those lines. The portrayal of some of the characters is so tacky and clichéd that you wonder if RGV has really directed this film. The film is also replete with "dialogues" as opposed to actual conversation - another one that comes to mind goes something like "Plant ke liye paise chahiye..paise plant ke liye nahin". I would have imagined that RGV, above all, would have realised the value of a good script and camera work. The acting is poor, except for Amitabh Bachchan, who is the saving grace of this film. Abhishek Bachchan tries his best but what can one do when he is asked to deliver dialogues. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has made a decent effort as well but the most gnawing factor has to be the supporting cast - people with clichéd mannerisms makes the film looks C-grade. Sorry Ram Gopal Verma, you could have done such a job with what seemed like an interesting story. You had a good cast and crew too, but you got it wrong this time. What a waste!

For those who are new to Indian cinema, it might be worth mentioning that Aamir Khan's films are always eagerly anticipated. What made this anticipation all the more dramatic was the fact that Taare Zameen Par was Aamir's first film as director.

Story So what's the film all about? Taare Zameen Par (translated: Stars on Earth) is the story of a boy who suffers from dyslexia (Darsheel Safary who plays Ishaan Awasthi), told from his viewpoint. The film portrays the trials and tribulations of a dyslexic child and how people such as his parents and teachers around him deal with the situation. Aamir Khan plays his art teacher who helps him see the light at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel.

Review I'd like to start by stating that Taare Zameen Par is one of the best films ever made in Hindi Cinema. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT a children's film. Sure, the protagonist is an eight-year old boy but this film is for everyone to see.

What makes this film particularly important in today's India is that it deals with the country's changing socio-economic context - India's middle-class is growing, with growing stress on competitive education and high performance in every aspect of life. The Awasthi family reflects this context - work hard and succeed at work and school, whatever the cost might be. Enter Ishaan, who feels lost in the real world and prefers to live with friends such as paint colours, fish in a bowl and "dancing letters" (beautifully described in the song "Jame Raho"). Ishaan is played brilliantly by Darsheel Safary - perhaps the best performance by a child actor since the 'Masoom' trio. There are hardly any dialogues for the character, but Darsheel is able to portray the troubled character splendidly through his expressions. His parents played by Tisca Chopra and Vipin Sharma and brother Sachet Engineer have done a great job as the supporting cast, although one wishes that the mother (played by Chopra) could have played a more proactive role in her son's future.

The film is very-well scripted and one pities the original creator of this venture - Amole Gupte. Although he is given due credit as the film's creative director, it doesn't mention the fact that he was the original director, has studied this subject for years and was involved deeply in every aspect of the film, especially the script and late-night sessions with the music directors to get it right.

And what can one say about Aamir Khan? 'Brilliant' and 'unprecedented' come to mind immediately. Dealing with a topic such as dyslexia is difficult and I'm sure a lot of people might not agree with the way Ishaan is treated in the film or with some of the answers to dyslexia. But its important to remember that this is a film, not a documentary and it has been set in an Indian context. Some of the greatest directors in the world (Spielberg, Satyajit Ray, etc) have been credited for their ability to deal with the child actors. Aamir Khan has not only taken on a difficult subject but also brought out a terrific performance from Darsheel Safary. Aamir has presented the film from the eyes of Ishaan and has so effectively used animation to describe Ishaan's thought process. Unlike many other Indian directors, he has used the music so well to push the story ahead, especially with the song "Maa". It goes without saying that the film is technically perfect, considering Aamir regards himself a perfectionist.

Overall, a near-flawless film that appeals to the sensitivities of Indian audiences. Haunting, melodic music. Good acting. Great direction. Bravo Aamir, what a start!