Aamir Khan, Bollywood’s perennial perfectionist, has had a rough patch with back-to-back disappointments in Thugs of Hindostan and Lal Singh Chaddha. The latter, in particular, saw him lean into an over-the-top performance that left audiences cringing. In Sitare Zameen Par, directed by RS Prasanna, Aamir steps back from that exaggerated style, delivering a more restrained act. But Aamir, please stop raising your eyebrows to let us know that you’re acting.
The film, centered around a group of neurodiverse children and their mentor, aims to tug at heartstrings while delivering a feel-good narrative. It’s a premise that echoes Aamir’s own Taare Zameen Par, but Sitare struggles to capture that same emotional depth or the rousing inspiration of a Chak De India. Instead, it lands somewhere in the middle—pleasant but not profound, heartfelt but not unforgettable. The screenplay feels like it’s stuck in a time warp, with a predictable arc that might have charmed audiences a decade ago. In 2025, however, audience sensibilities have evolved, and the film’s old-school approach feels a tad out of touch.
The pacing doesn’t help. The story starts sluggishly, taking its time to introduce the specially-abled characters who are, without question, the heart of the film. Their extraordinary performances—raw, authentic, and brimming with life—steal the show, and director RS Prasanna deserves applause for coaxing such brilliance from them. In fact, a behind-the-scenes look at how the crew nurtured these performances might have been more compelling than the film itself. Yet, the delayed introductions make the audience wait too long for the story’s emotional core to kick in, and there’s no gripping hook at the intermission to keep you invested. RS Prasanna story-telling talent turns out to be ‘good for nothing’ in its failure to truly inspire.
Humor, a key ingredient in feel-good films, is a mixed bag here. Some scenes land well, tickling the ribs with genuine charm, but others try too hard, coming off as forced and flat. The bigger issue, though, is the film’s tendency to preach. Lines about man’s ego or the neurodiverse children being the “real teachers” feel heavy-handed, as if Aamir and team don’t trust the audience to get the point without spelling it out. In an era where subtlety is king, these moments of overt moralizing—especially the forced “gyan” on disability and what’s “normal”—feel dated and cringe-inducing.
Despite these flaws, Sitare Zameen Par isn’t a misstep on the scale of Aamir’s recent flops. It’s a step toward redemption, showcasing his ability to anchor a story with sincerity, even if the magic of his earlier classics remains elusive. The specially-abled cast is the film’s shining light, their performances a testament to Prasanna’s skill in bringing out their potential. But with a predictable narrative, uneven pacing, and a tendency to over-explain, Sitare doesn’t soar as high as it could. It’s a film that warms the heart but doesn’t quite set it ablaze, leaving you wishing for a spark that never fully ignites.
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