“Taare Zameen Par” is about the travails an 8-year old boy undergoes in his family. Ishaan Awasthi, played by Darsheel Safary, is a happy and care-free boy who loves all the good things of Nature that have been created by the God. He likes to paint, loves dogs, kites, etc. and has no time at all for the homework and examination routine boys of his age have to face!
As a corollary, Ishaan detests being in the classroom and the studies reflect his dislike. Beyond a certain point of time, his parents decide that they have had enough of him and send him off to a boarding school to’be disciplined’. Boarding school turns out to be a nightmare for Ishaan where he is burdened with the additional trauma of staying away from his family.
Thankfully for Ishaan, a new art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh, joins the school. Nikumbh is a teacher with a vision and a mission to keep all the children happy and at peace with themselves. Adopting an altogether different approach, Nikumbh allows the students to be on their own and breaks the shackles of being a “strict” teacher. He tells the children to open up and do things as per their wishes, likes and imagination.
Taken by complete surprise, all the children respond with great enthusiasm and cheerfulness. Ishaan, however, keeps to himself. Sensing Ishaan’s aloofness, Nikumbh turns his attention towards Ishaan. Over a period of time, with tact, patience and affection, the teacher in Nikumbh wins over the student in Ishaan.
Darsheel Safary as Ishaan carries the entire film on his frail but firm shoulders. As a troubled child, he goes through a whole gamut of emotions, switching from one to the other with relative ease. Vipin Sharma and Tisca Chopra, Ishaan’s parents, portray how typically strict parents tend to reach in the given scenario.
Aamir Khan as Ram Shankar Nikumbh has put in an appreciable performance. As a kind teacher, he is always smiling and is brimming with optimism. The way he first studies Ishaan and does many tricks to earn the goodwill of the latter, jells well with the mood of the viewers. Tanay Chheda as Rajan Damodaran, Ishaan’s best pal in the film, earns praise for being so kind and helpful to Ishaan.