Taare Zameen Par: Rated “PRG” (Parents Require Guidance)

If all start living on their own terms, this world will be altogether a different place. Childhood is that juvenile period in life when the dreams have no boundaries and sky is the limit. It’s only when the weight of someone else’s dream comes on your shoulder; life turns full circle and you start as if there was no past. Resisting sticking with past raises questions to your capabilities as in this world there is only one way to get praised which is to perform the best in all the fields.

This is not just a movie but this is a world from a child’s view. Here 3*9 can be 3 and yes it’s logical since Pluto (The 9th planet) has no more existence. Ishaan is an eight year old boy who is little different from others. Lost in his own world, always short of words but yet understands every single aspect of life. Problem with him is to express himself loudly, no one understands the way he behaves since he himself is puzzled the way things are going around him. Unclear in expressing himself, he presses his parents and teachers to start thinking that he is not one of the normal child but someone who requires special attention. This forces his demanding father to sent him to a boarding school, an eight year old boy who always lived his life in shadow of his mother couldn’t adjust to this abrupt distance from her and goes into mental trauma which makes him a speechless kid, Berated by the teachers and friends around, this new world takes every color from his life until his new art teacher Ram comes in and helps him to get outside the nutshell to prove that Ishaan is no less than a brilliant artist in making.

It’s a lesson for all those parents who expect their child to win all the races; one has to accept that you can’t have no# 1 in every house, someone has to be in lower down the order. Actual problem starts when parents start pushing their child to fulfill their own dreams which they saw but couldn’t convert into realities. It’s not always about being in the race and finishing first, sometimes finishing it gracefully also matters. In a way, everyone can relate to it, especially if you have grown up in India where most children are classified as dumb or unintelligent if they "can't" become engineers or doctors. Movie is a biting criticism of the times we live in. But it also makes you smile, laugh, cry, nod in agreement and seethe with anger; everything that a movie is supposed to do. It truly is a movie which everyone can relate to. Reminds you that movies are meant to make us think; to provoke us and act as a mirror of our times. Taare Zameen Par does all this and much more. This is outstanding heart-warming stuff, hats off to Aamir for once again taking on an off- beat topic and bringing it to life in his directorial debut. This movie surely belongs to children and their childhood.

I myself have worked with kids who require help like Ishaan and I know it very well how do they feel when the world is too demanding and there is less power in you to fulfill them. I am happy that I saw this movie well in advance, now surely I am going to do justice to the new age coming. I rated this movie as PRG and surely it’s a must watch for each parent and future parents.

Backlashes From Past.

It's a quiet & chilly morning; I am not keeping well from past few days so at home taking rest remembering old days I spent with my friends and loved one, not to mention family is a league apart and no one can backfill for them, there I saw one of unturned page not read from long which I intentionally didn’t turn but today I had no option but to read it and take the plunge.

It was a bad day, result of fifth semester was to be announced tomorrow and with papers not going well I was little nervous about the outcome of it. I was in haste rushing to catch my train back home when I unintentionally pushed this old man who came in my way, he almost fell but I didn’t even look back and was rushing when one of my friend asked me to stop and help the old man. I wasn’t in good mood so I gave him a bad look but he was right; it wasn’t ethical and with no option I had to help the old chap. I went back to the man and first said sorry for my behavior and asked him how can I help? he looked at me; I feared him saying something to me but with lot of efforts he uttered “Son, it’s not possible for me to take the over bridge with my luggage and get on to another platform to catch the train, if possible can you help me getting onto other platform?”, I wondered how such a person can be left alone who can’t help himself; I had to catch my train and I wasn’t in any mood of doing such brainstorming until my results so I took his luggage and asked him to follow me but I got frustrated when I saw him taking baby steps, I checked my watch only 5 minutes for my train to leave and I didn’t want to miss it; I asked him to hurry but he said he is doing his best. I asked him to hold my hand and then I started moving fast but then I realize that he was fumbling in his move, for the first time in life I realized what is to be in such a situation, life doesn’t move the way you want it to move.

I saw my friends screaming train is going to leave in minutes come fast but by now I decided to help the old man first and then only catch the train. I thought of talking something with him and I asked him where is he going? I was shocked with his reply when he said he has no place to go……. I thought I didn’t hear it correct, I asked him again and got the same reply. I didn’t speak a word as I knew something was wrong here and I was apprehensive in getting deeper into the matter then suddenly he asked me a question which moved me all the way “Do you love your parents?” what to reply for such a question? Who wouldn’t in whole world? I said yes of course I love my family, He said “Bless you my boy, may you achieve all the success and may your love for you parents remain the same forever”. I saw tears coming out behind those thick glasses which were so thick that I couldn’t see those old eyes but I could see the tears, there were plenty of them. I understood his reason of asking me that question, my heart was heavy now and I was almost chocked. Today I faced the real world for the first time. I was under my parents all these days and never saw this phase of life which was ugly, thanks to my parents who made my life so beautiful. I couldn’t speak anything now but still I followed to the platform. I saw my train leaving other platform and friends shouting but I wasn’t looking and listening anything now, I was just thinking of this old man as to what he is going to do? I was in college and hardly had money other than pocket money, I checked my valet, I had only 120 Rs, I offered him all of them; he looked at me again with tears in his eyes and said “just pray that I get a shelter where I am going and that will be all my son”. I broke into tears, I never felt so bad in my entire life. Today I was seeing the real world, I waited until his train started moving; he from his window was seeing at me waving in reply, I was for him his family for farewell, may be last time from this town.

I realized, today morning what I said to my mom when she got late in getting my stuff which I as usual kept somewhere and wasn’t able to find. I sat on the platform for long time just thinking what will happen to that old man, after sometime I took another train back home. When I reached home it was very late of my usual time; my mom asked me why I came so late today? I said sorry mom but I love you. She was surprised to hear such a mild reply from my side……..