Release Date : June 20, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Aamir Khan, Genelia Deshmukh, Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Vedant Sharmaa, Naman Misra, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Ashish Pendese, Samvit Desai, Simran Mangeshkar, Aayashkar Mangeshkar, Dolly Ahluwalia, Gurpal Singh, Brijendra Kala, Ankita Sehgal
Director : R. S. Prasanna
Producers : Aamir Khan, Aparna Purohit
Music Director : Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonsa, ZeemusicCompany
Cinematographer : G. Srinivas Reddy
Editor : Charu Shree Roy
Related Links : Trailer
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan’s iconic film, Taare Zameen Par, is acclaimed for its sensitive portrayal of children’s psyche and was also a box office success. 18 years later, Aamir Khan brings its sequel, the emotional drama titled Sitaare Zameen Par. Check out our review to know if this much-awaited movie has succeeded in winning the audience’s hearts like its predecessor, as it releases globally today.
Story:
Gulshan Arora (Aamir Khan) is an assistant coach for the Delhi basketball team. Gulshan’s short temper and other bad habits often land him in numerous problems. On a fateful day of drunk driving, Gulshan is caught by the police. As punishment, he is ordered by the court to coach a team of young athletes who are dealing with autism, invisible autism, Down’s Syndrome, and Fragile X Syndrome. What kind of challenges does Gulshan face while coaching a team with learning disabilities? What issues arise with his wife, Sunita (Genelia)? What are the shocking truths Gulshan discovers? What does he ultimately achieve with this team? This forms the main crux of Sitaare Zameen Par’s story.
Plus Points:
The story of Sitaare Zameen Par may not feel drastically different for audiences who have already watched Taare Zameen Par. However, the emotions in SZP are quite distinct. The film beautifully presents the theme of young individuals with Down Syndrome and other intellectual difficulties achieving success when they set their minds to it.
The pacing of the narrative in the first half is quick and engaging and holds the audience’s attention. However, there are a few moments in the second half when the director seems to have lost focus. The challenges Gulshan faces as a basketball coach for the young team with intellectual difficulties are well depicted.
Aamir Khan’s performance as a coach who is determined to make his ‘unusual’ team win is fabulous. The emotional arc of his relationship with his wife, Sunita, is handled with depth. The climax in particular is quite emotional and offers a satisfying conclusion to this emotional drama.
Minus Points:
Having witnessed the critical and commercial success of Taare Zameen Par, fans of the prequel may find Sitaare Zameen Par lacking in comparison. Despite the presence of emotional content, the sequel fails to leave a lasting impression on the audience.
While films like Sitaare Zameen Par don’t necessarily need to focus on entertainment, the emotional mark should definitely not be missed by such movies. In SZP’s case, the backstories of certain characters are treated way too lightly.
In addition, the way Gulshan interacts with a young team dealing with learning difficulties doesn’t connect with the audience. The bond between the coach and his team develops only in the climax, which may be too late to impress the audience. Scenes featuring the hero’s wife and mother seem to let the film down.
Technical Aspects:
Director RS Prasanna does a fine job handling the emotional drama, but he could have focused more on the screenplay and tightened some of the lackluster scenes. The cinematography is solid, while the music, though decent, doesn’t feature any standout tracks, which played a key role in the success of Taare Zameen Par. The editing could have been crisper in a few scenes. The production values are quite good.
Verdict:
On the whole, Sitaare Zameen Par manages to appeal to a niche audience with its strong emotional drama and solid performances. However, if you go in expecting a film on the same level as Taare Zameen Par, you might be left slightly disappointed. The film slows down in certain places, which could deter the audience’s attention. However, for those who watch the film with no preconceived expectations, Sitaare Zameen Par will likely be an enjoyable emotional journey.
123telugu.com Rating: 3/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team
