December 25, 2007

Taare zameen par – an experience!

I saw the movie last night. This is not a review per se. In fact, the movie does not need any review. I cannot imagine anybody not liking this movie. A movie about a dyslexic child… under pressure from the materialistic expectations of parents and teachers… suffering from absolute lack of confidence. It is an amazing journey of the little boy – from the naughty kid in his own world to an unknown boarding school world where he cannot find himself. Until of course, Aamir Khan discovers the little boy’s strengths and likings.

As I said earlier, the movie is too good for me to even attempt writing a review.

For me personally, watching the movie was a real experience. For, I could relate to the little boy very intimately. Everything that happened to him has happened to my elder brother – except a ‘savior’ in the form of AK. I could feel the pain of the little boy. I have seen many similar scenes of the movie in my own life years ago. The comparison of the little boy with his elder brother, for instance. My brother was also put through such subjective evaluations relative to me. The difference vis-à-vis movie is that I am the younger brother.

It was really really tough for me to keep my composure and not break down crying as I watched the movie. There were scenes which ripped me apart because it happened to my brother also. My parents too behaved exactly the way the little boy’s parents did – because the fact of the matter is they did not think they were doing anything wrong. I can perceive the emptiness in my brother’s life when I was given the kind of attention (at his cost) for being 'academically good' and 'normal' like other kids. Thankfully, my brother was not sent to boarding though. In fact, it was contemplated seriously at one point in time. Financial problems stalled the plans.

This movie has hit me hard. It has increased my guilt and remorse for not being able to make any difference to my brother’s life. I wish it was as easy for me to go up to him and share my feelings. I wish I can assure him that I am always going to be around for him. I wish I can make a little difference to his life. I wish I would not have been so immature, selfish and stupid all these years.

The brilliant work of Prasoon Joshi can be easily overshadowed by the little boy’s classic performance and AK’s charisma. But I strongly feel the movie will lose a lot of charm and feel if it was not for the lyrics of few songs. Kudos to Prasoon Joshi…

This movie will act as a catalyst in fulfilling my dreams over the next few years. May the tribe of Amole Gupte and AK in this world keep growing…

Sorry chetta for everything…

6 comments:

The Smile Trooper said...

hey...

its never too late to start making a difference, don't feel hurt and remorse for not being able to do something or nything, take pride in the fact, that u will NOW be able to do something. Good luck buddy!!

Unknown said...

Hello sir,
I read the blog and found it really touching and I feel your chettan is lucky to have such a wonderful aniyan.

Renny said...

Hey Hari you are a 'Learning Individual' ie you know, you Understand and you change i am sure this movie will change you (if not already) but please do not feel guilty of not knowing things which you wouldn't have known.

When i look back i feel i was far more luckier than my elder brother in escaping the pressure of performance. Though it was never expected of us to top the class but there was an unwritten accord at home about 'good performance'

After reading what you have written it forces me to think whether it is just a coincidence or a representative of parenting skills in India where a lot is expected from the first child by default.

May be may be not but my experience is my younger brother and me have done academically well (by my own standard :)) only because of minimal pressure.

I am resolved to be a guide to my kids and my younger brother and i sincerely hope that i prove the strong man written about in your previous post.

U No Hoo said...

Thanks all.. what you say indeed makes sense and as they say, today is the first day of the rest of my life! So, a fresh start going forward..

Vaidehi said...

Beautiful post..Very heart-warming..I too have personally seen the pain of being a slow-learner (a very close cousin is a dyslexic),wanting to help somebody, but not able to do anything.. But over the years, what I learnt from my cuz is that the same vulnerability in their earlier life, makes these very special people much more stonger emotionally than us seemingly normal people.. They have this ability to forgive & forget much easier than us... I m sure that ur brother will be holding no such grudges against such a worthy younger brother as you...

sumi said...

really touching ...still left to see the movie...
but i guess u still can make a difference...
just repeat the last line before girish mama...
its difficult i know..but try...
just an advice..