Film review sitare zameen par

Sitare zameen par( released in 20th June 2025)

Film review by Aditi Sawarkar

Profile:

Language: Hindi,Tamil& Telegu 

By Aamir Khan Productions

Genre: Drama, Social Awareness|,  Children

Theme: Inclusion, Learning Disabilities, Empathy 

Directed by R.S.Prassana

Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Sequel of ‘Tare zameen par ’(2007)

Remake of 'campeones' (2018).

Which was directed by Javier Fesser

Worldwide box office collection by Day 5:

 Sitaare Zameen Par has earned ₹75.15 crore in India and ₹26 crore overseas, taking the total worldwide collection to approximately ₹101.15 crore.

Critics rating:3.5/5

IMDb rating:7.3/10

Brief synopsis

Aamir Khan stars as a coach named Gulshan Arora who’s reckless actions land him in a court, Instead of jail time, he’s handed community service and lands at a special needs school, tasked with coaching a basketball team made up of kids with intellectual disabilities. What starts as a punishment quickly becomes something else entirely. Je later realises that the children he came to "fix" are the ones teaching him. As he bonds with students who think and learn differently, he discovers the power of empathy, patience, and unfiltered joy. A heartwarming tale of inclusion and change. The film touches on themes of empathy, inclusion, and unlearning bias.

Review

Aamir Khan brings his usual charm and polish, though he plays it a bit safe. Genelia Deshmukh, as his wife, has a gentle screen presence but isn’t given much to do. The emotional heft of the film belongs to the kids, it’s the children who are the real stars. The team is made up of ten young actors, many of whom are neurodiverse themselves. Each character feels distinct , from the shy one who struggles to trust, to the confident prankster who lights up every room, to the determined player who won’t give up no matter how many times they fall.

The team has done their absolute best while portraying certain disabilities, helping people educate about them without it seeming like an attempt to seek sympathy or pity,Bantu (Vedant Sharma), for instance, often scratches his ear while concentrating which is a form of stimming that’s subtly shown, Guddu (Gopikrishnan K Verma) has a visible fear of water, or aquaphobia, but his panic never becomes his personality instead, it becomes a moment of  vulnerability. Sharmaji (Rishi Shahani), with his speech impairment, communicates in broken words and long pauses, yet speaks volumes with his expressions. Then there’s Hargovind (Naman Misra), whose high-functioning autism is never named, but visible

 They aren’t written as caricatures or objects of pity they’re loud, flawed, lovable kids who steal every scene with their honesty and energy.

Supporting characters like Gulshan’s mother Preeto(Dolly Ahluwalia), andTheir butler Daulatji  (Bijendra Kala) add moments of humour and friction, helping push the narrative forward without stealing focus from the central bond between coach and team.

A huge round of applause is reserved for the film’s heart , the incredible ensemble of young actors who play the basketball team. Vedant Sharma, Gopikrishnan K Verma, Rishi Shahani, Naman Misra, Ashish Pendse, Aroush Datta, Aayush Bhansali, Rishabh Jain, Simran Mangeshkar, and Samvit Desai bring boundless energy, warmth, and authenticity to their roles.

That said, the film isn’t without flaws. A few scenes drag on longer than they need to, and the final emotional high point teeters on melodrama. Some plot elements, like the team conveniently managing travel logistics for a big tournament, feel a bit too easy. But these are small trade-offs in a film that’s clearly driven by good intentions and big heart.

 While the narrative feels familiar at times, echoing Aamir Khan's own Taare Zameen Par, Sitare Zameen Par is a sweet reminder that sometimes, the ones who seem different are actually the ones who make the biggest difference.

Takeaway/Message

Sitare Zameen Par gently reminds us that inclusion isn't charity - it's a necessity. The film encourages us to look beyond labels and recognise the strengths, humour, and spirit in children who are often misunderstood or left behind. It challenges viewers to rethink what it means to be "normal," and highlights the value of patience, empathy, and human connection. It's not about changing the kids - it's about changing the way we see them.

Sitare Zameen Par is winning hearts across the country, with audiences calling it “a learning for all” and “perception-changing.” Social media is full of praise. Comments like “this film stays with you” and “an emotional journey we all needed”, Watching the 10 new actors along with #AamirKhan is soul touching! ”are all over Instagram.

What people have to say about this movie:

Sohum Shah (Actor/Filmmaker):

“A reminder that stories with heart do matter.”

He praised Aamir Khan for choosing meaningful storytelling over just star power  

 Sudha Murty (Philanthropist & Author):

 “Many people don’t understand… this film is an eye‑opener.”

Murty emphasized its thoughtful portrayal and urged everyone to watch it  

The Times of India:  “Aamir Khan’s film wins hearts with strong word‑of‑mouth… being described as ‘a learning for all.’”  

Darsheel Safary (star named as Eshan in the film ‘Taare Zameen Par’):  “My heart feels fuller, softer and happier.”  

TOI Entertainment Desk:  “Aamir Khan receives standing ovation at Sitare Zameen Par special screening… audience hailed film as ‘perception‑changing.’”

Sitare Zameen Par doesn’t try too hard to move you , it simply tells the truth. And in doing so, it reminds us that sometimes, the brightest stars are the ones we almost forget to look at.