Sitaare Zameen Par — news, coverage & facts — IJR

Plot

Gulshan Arora is a once-promising but now disillusioned assistant basketball coach, whose career takes an unexpected turn when he is assigned to train a team of intellectually challenged basketball players as a punishment from court because of drunk and driving. Initially, Gulshan finds the task incredibly challenging, struggling to connect with his new team due to their unique conditions and individual needs. His patience is frequently tested, and he often feels overwhelmed by the responsibility.

As Gulshan grudgingly begins working with the team, he slowly starts to understand their individual struggles and strengths. A significant turning point in his coaching approach comes when he helps Guddu, one of the players, overcome his debilitating fear of bathing, a phobia that has caused significant distress. This small victory marks the beginning of a deeper bond between Gulshan and his team. During this period, the team gains a new, charismatic member, Golu Khan, whose infectious enthusiasm further brightens the group's spirits and dynamic.

Despite the numerous hurdles, the team's dedication and spirit remain strong. Their efforts culminate in them qualifying for a major basketball tournament in Mumbai. The journey to the city becomes a period of personal growth for Gulshan as well. While en route, he confronts and ultimately overcomes his own long-standing phobia of lifts, a personal battle he had previously avoided. Upon arriving in Mumbai, Gulshan receives a shock when he discovers that his mother is romantically involved with their family cook, a revelation that deeply unsettles him and adds a layer of personal turmoil to his professional commitments.

The much-anticipated tournament finally arrives. The team, despite their best efforts and renewed confidence, ultimately loses the final match. However, the outcome does not diminish their spirits. Instead of despairing, the players and Gulshan celebrate their journey, their improvements, and the bonds they have forged. In a moment of realization, Gulshan understands that while he believed he was coaching them, the players had, in fact, been his true coaches, teaching him invaluable lessons about resilience, acceptance, and joy.

The film concludes on a heartwarming note as Gulshan, who had previously been hesitant about starting a family, embraces the news that his wife, Sunita, is pregnant with their first child, symbolizing his complete personal transformation and newfound readiness for fatherhood.

Critical reception

Sitaare Zameen Par opened to positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 63% of 19 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.7/10.

Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and said that "Aamir Khan effortlessly slips into the character of a temperamental man who is often mocked for his short stature."

Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express also gave it 3.5 stars out of 5 and said that "This film wouldn't have worked as well as it does if Aamir hadn't been fully committed to putting himself out there as a hero-who-is-a-jerk." Bollywood Hungama also gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5, praising the story, direction and performances, and noting that the film educated viewers about the characteristics of neurodivergent people. In another 3.5 star out of 5 review, Dhaval Roy from Times of India also praised the performances and labelled the film a wholesome, feel-good watch.

Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India observed that "R.S. Prasanna and Aamir Khan’s remake of a Spanish sports dramedy is too preachy to be a classic underdog story."

Shilajit Mitra of The Hindu writes in his review that "An ideal Aamir Khan film can be both entertaining and edifying. Despite its good intentions, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ is just annoying."

Mayur Sanap of Rediff.com gave 2 stars out of 5 and said that "There was more to this feel-good exercise that never reaches the dramatic heights it is aiming for."

Devesh Sharma of Filmfare gave 4 stars out of 5 and said that "This is a film that teaches while it entertains, without ever being preachy. It holds up a mirror to society and nudges us to be kinder, gentler, and more accepting. And for that alone, it deserves to be seen, celebrated, and remembered".

Deepa Gahlot writing for Scroll.in observed that "The film is well-intentioned, often heart-warming, but also simplistic. Divy Nidhi Sharma’s script is has [sic] some pithy lines but it also prevents the story from conveying its own points. The message is repeated over and over again and then some."

Subhash K Jha of News 24 gave 3.5 stars and said that "Sitaare Zameen Par to remind us that cinema in Hindi with a heart and balls, is not dead. Far from it. Aamir Khan’s constantly hungover look goes a long way in sharpening the compassionate clause in the storytelling. His monologue at the end when he sums up what he has learnt about normalcy and life from his team, is profoundly moving. Those are not fake tears. This is not a film about glycerine goals."

Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and said that "Aamir Khan's film is a heartfelt product, meant to be experienced in a theatre. The laughter, sniffles enhance the impact."

Rajiv Vijayakar of Deccan Herald observed that "'Sitaare Zameen Par' is an outstanding confection of feel-good entertainment, mainstream cinema conventions, a novel theme and social messages."

Titas Chowdhury of News 18 said that "Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par is a heartwarming film on neurodivergence, but despite its noble intent, it falters with a stretched second half."

Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost writes in her review that "Aamir Khan’s ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ will truly make you think. But it will not move you the way Taare Zameen Par did so many years back. Having said that, Sitaare Zameen Par is notable for being the contemporary, mainstream Bollywood film in recent years to touch upon disability."

Aishwarya Vasudevan of OTT Play rated 3/5 stars and said that "In Sitaare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan ditches the halo and dons humility, letting the real stars—his neurodivergent team—shine brightest. It’s less about Taare Zameen Par déjà vu and more about a man-child’s cosmic crash course in empathy." Amit Bhatia of ABP News writes that "Sitaare Zameen Par will make you laugh, move you to tears, and leave you with a lesson you’ll carry for life. It’s a true feel-good watch that reaffirms why Aamir Khan is a master storyteller."

Sitaare Zameen Par

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Sitaare Zameen Par

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