Every Child is Special: A Movie Review

Synopsis

             Every Child is Special, with an original Hindi title Taare Zameen Par, is a 2007 Indian drama movie directed and produced by Aamhir Khan. The film manifests the life and imagination of Ishaan, an 8 year old dyslexic child. His poor academic performance makes his parents to decide to send him in a boarding school, not knowing that he excels in art. Lately, Ishaan’s new art teacher observes that he is dyslexic and helps him to overcome his disability. After its international release, the film has received numerous critical acclaims for its one of a kind story offering.

CHARACTERS:

          Darsheel Safary as Ishaan Awashti, the dyslexic child

          Aamir Khan as Ram Shankar Nikumbh, Ishaan’s art teacher

          Tisca Chopra as Maya Awashti, Ishaan’s loving mother

          Vipin Sharma as Nandkishore Awashti, a strict father of Ishaan

          Sachet Engineer as Yohaan Awashti, Ishaan’s elder brother

Critique

                   The script of the movie is done with a great skill. It is realistic and it is very much internalized by the actors and actresses that are suitable for the scene. The actors and actresses in the film carry and show appropriate emotions based on the lines that they deliver. Darsheel Safary and Aamir Khan both create the whole film very exciting, and colorful. Despite of Safary’s youth, he already knows how to handle his character being a dyslexic child who cannot focus on what he does and always daydreaming. His emotions on his face make the viewer feel and understand what he feels and imagines. Aamir Khan’s talent also proves that he wants the audience to feel how he empathizes on Safary’s condition-his eyes, his smiles and his actions. He is a kind of teacher who cares about his students, especially to the character of Safary who is aloof and bullied by his other classmates. Tisca Chopra and Vipin Sharma, who play the character as mother and father to Safary, have the physical features that fit their character as parents. Chopra is a very loving mother to him and Sharma is a father who wants his children to be good at school, but is frustrated by Ishaan’s disability. Sachet Engineer displays love and care for a younger brother who portrays the role as elder brother to Darsheel Safary. 

        The movie’s cinematography contributes to the mood and emotions of the characters, mainly to the mood of Darsheel Safary. It communicates how he really love art and drawing. The colors and movements of shapes, letters and numbers even animals that he draws seem to be alive in his wide imagination. The musical score generates the emotion of the viewers. It is a mix of humor and touching music. It makes your heart smile and melt, especially at the end. Musical background plus the emotion evoked by the actors will bring you to tears. Another point is that the film is also a bit of musical for there is a scene that Aamir Khan sings and dances with the students. It makes the scene very lively, happy and amazing.

                   The casts’ costume is the Indian traditional dress, example, uniform of a teacher in India. Their costume fits on the place they are in-whether in the house, work or school. There is also a clown costume used by Khan when he is on the classroom.

  Every Child is Special is a movie who changed my life in a moment. As I watch the movie, every scene touched my heart, making me realize how a teacher can really make or break a child. I saw how Ram Shankar Nikumbh had encountered some hindrances and challenges in helping his student, Ishaan. It mirrors the true teacher’s heart, making himself the way to conquer a learner’s difficulties, like how Ram Shankar Nikumbh gives his patience and love to deal Ishaan’s disability. As a teacher to be, this movie is indeed a must watch for it is inspiring and an eye opener. What I learned in the story is that never give up on a child no matter how hard it is; help him to discover his own talents and abilities, where he excels. That is how you will shape his life and that is how he will remember you- the one who patiently helped him reach the top.  

Recommendation

                   Every Child is Special is indeed a life mover. It is a movie that you will never regret and forget, but you will treasure throughout your life especially for a teacher. It is a perfect example of how to deal with a student with special needs, and it makes us aware of dyslexia. It teaches us how to have patience, determination, passion and love towards those students who suffer from it. Even it was filmed 9 years ago, it still refreshes our mind about the common scenario in a Special Education class. The film, being about a teacher and a student doesn’t mean that it is for teachers only; all types of audience may watch this amazing movie since it covers all the community setting of a child’s life- the home setting and school setting which greatly affects how a child views his life and himself. I am confident that this movie is worthy. We can all be inspired.