Certain movies shine through visual grandeur in the kaleidoscopic world of Indian cinema. Taare Zameen Par is a simple yet beautiful film, occupying a warm corner in this world. Released in 2007 and directed by Amole Gupte and Aamir Khan, it is a tear-jerking story conveying a profound message.
The film centers on Ishaan Awasthi, an eight-year-old boy who struggles to keep up with the rigid education system. At its heart, it is a battle between individuality and conformity. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Ishaan is not rebellious, but misunderstood. The movie traces his tumble into isolation and his gradual blooming as a tender child who realizes his worth.
The story begins with a glimpse of Ishaan’s inner life, where he remains lost in reverie. His room reflects his creativity—walls adorned with sketches of sea creatures, puzzle pieces, and scattered art supplies. While the world moves fast to the beats of Jame Raho, Ishaan moves slowly and curiously. His household runs on a strict routine, but Ishaan dreams of dragons and trains swirling in his imagination.
At school, Ishaan fails to keep up with his classmates. Afraid of his parents’ scolding, he gives his test paper to street dogs, unwilling to take it home. Strikingly, he seems unbothered by his test results, even as teachers frequently catch him daydreaming. His inconsistent handwriting, confusion between similar-looking letters like p and q or b and d, words that “dance” on the page, and his habit of solving math questions through imaginary scenarios — all hint at his condition.
Ishaan constantly faces pressure at home and school. Despite his rich inner world, his struggles are dismissed as laziness instead of a cry for help. His parents and teachers misinterpret him. Even in the neighbourhood, he avoids the bullying boys and spends time with street dogs. Everywhere, people fail to recognize that Ishaan needs help the most.
When he is sent to a boarding school, the greyscale classrooms, uniforms, and muted atmosphere mirror his growing isolation. His unassuming demeanor conveys deep sadness. Captured beautifully in the song Maa, Ishaan’s emotions show how he retreats into silence, losing his carefree spirit. He misses his family, especially his mother, and feels lost in a world that seems unsafe without her. Giving up painting, his greatest passion, makes his pain truly visible.
A pivotal moment comes with the arrival of Ram Shankar Nikumbh, his new art teacher. Unlike others, Nikumbh engages warmly with children. His classes brim with laughter, colours, and freedom, not fear or punishment. Through artistic games, he instills confidence rather than reprimand.
Perceptive and empathetic, Nikumbh quickly notices Ishaan’s struggles. Having worked at a school for children with special needs—and being dyslexic himself—he recognizes the signs that others missed. After speaking with Ishaan’s friend Rajan, his family, and studying his notebooks, Nikumbh realizes that Ishaan is not careless but a dyslexic child in desperate need of support.
Nikumbh then mentors Ishaan patiently, helping him regain confidence. Using creative methods, encouragement, and faith, he guides Ishaan’s reading and writing. Ishaan gradually opens up, rediscovers himself, and begins to flourish once again.
The art competition at the end is more than just a contest. It is a reclamation of Ishaan’s lost self. His painting of the pond symbolizes his serene inner world, his love for nature and water, and his ability to express himself beyond the confines of academics.
Nikumbh’s portrait of Ishaan grinning, a sight he had never seen before, represents his belief in Ishaan’s ability to overcome difficulties. It portrays Ishaan as a child full of joy, confidence, and freedom from self-doubt. When Ishaan sees this, his eyes well with tears as he realizes that Nikumbh is more than a teacher – he is a friend.
As Ishaan’s parents and teachers view his work, they realize they had never looked beyond his report cards to recognize his creativity and intellectual potential. Later, they are pleasantly surprised to see his remarkable progress.
In conclusion, Taare Zameen Par is more than a story — it is a powerful message about the struggles of countless children in India. Through Ishaan’s journey, the film challenges rigid norms and highlights how children, unfairly labelled lazy or inattentive, often suffer silently because of a lack of awareness about learning disabilities like dyslexia. It urges parents and teachers to look beyond marksheets and acknowledge each child’s unique potential. Most importantly, it honours empathetic teachers like Nikumbh Sir, whose belief in students can change their lives.
Taare Zameen Par isn’t just about dyslexia. It is a celebration of individuality and the transformative power of belief.
Note:
This piece is part of BTB’s Movie Analysis Project, designed to help teens look at films as literary works, with a writer’s eye and an incisive lens. Rather than stopping at a surface-level review, our learners are encouraged to explore deeper layers: character, theme, symbolism, societal impact and storytelling craft. At BTB, we believe this skill is crucial, not only for building stronger readers and writers, but also for shaping sharper thinkers who can look at a literary work with depth and nuance, enabling their own learning and growth in the process.
Authored by: Kaavya Chauhan