Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par Is a Slam Dunk of Emotion and Inclusion
A sports drama that scores big on heart, Sitaare Zameen Par brings back Aamir’s emotional playbook—with real kids, real tears, and real wins.
Aamir Khan, back in what might be his safest zone and also his riskiest—heartfelt, message-forward cinema—plays a jaded basketball coach forced to mentor a team of kids with intellectual disabilities. It’s a Hindi remake of Spain’s Champions, and more pointedly, a spiritual sibling to 2007’s Taare Zameen Par. This time though, we’re not inside the mind of a misunderstood child—we’re courtside, watching a whole team of kids light up the screen.
And people are showing up. Big time. The film pulled in ₹59.9 crore in its first weekend, making it the sixth-biggest Hindi opener of 2025. Not bad for a story that wears its sensitivity on its sleeve—and doesn’t apologize for it.
The Team That Scores
Aamir knows this terrain well—arcs of redemption, emotional payoffs, kids who feel real. But here, he gives plenty of room for the actual stars: the young cast playing the “Sitaare.” These aren’t polished child actors mugging for the camera—they’re kids with stories in their eyes. And they land their beats without fuss. As Koimoi put it, the film leaves you with “happy tears.” Not manipulative sobs—actual, earned, glad-to-be-human tears.
Genelia Deshmukh shows up with grace and warmth, and Dolly Ahluwalia is a laugh riot in the moments that need levity. But make no mistake: this movie belongs to the kids.
Emotional, Not Preachy (Well, Mostly)
Director R. S. Prasanna has a light touch. He knows the material could tip into PSA-territory. And while there are a few sermon-y moments—particularly in Aamir’s personal subplot—the core of the movie never loses its heart. The message is simple, and lands clean: normal looks different on everyone.
That line could’ve sounded like a Hallmark card. Instead, it hits like gospel.
Some Drag, Some Shine
Sure, there are moments that lag—side plots that feel like deleted scenes from another movie. And yes, you’ll check your watch once or twice. But then a game starts, or a character says something so heartbreakingly honest, you’re back in.
The film’s pacing issues feel more like bumps than breakdowns. And when the emotional gears click, they click hard.
Soundtrack That Carries the Soul
Big shoutout to Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, who’ve quietly delivered one of the year’s most tender soundtracks. Tracks like “Sar Aakhon Pe Mere” don’t scream for chart dominance—they just sneak into your chest and stay there.
The music, like the film, knows when to swell and when to back off.
The Aamir Effect
The box office speaks for itself. ₹60 crore in four days, and a global take of ₹50 crore in just 48 hours. But what’s more telling is the vibe online. From Mahesh Babu calling it “one of Aamir’s classics,” to Vir Das praising it for not being just another action-snoozefest, the film has that elusive post-pandemic glow: actual, unforced love.
Even Darsheel Safary, the original “Ishaan” from Taare Zameen Par, showed up with a full heart, saying, “My heart feels fuller, softer and happier.” That’s not just PR fluff—it’s legacy connecting to legacy.
The Internet’s Verdict? It Works
On Reddit, one user called it “the final test” for whether content-driven star vehicles can still survive. So far, the test is passing. And maybe that’s the real takeaway: in a year dominated by testosterone spectacles and franchise fatigue, here comes a film about kids who dance to their own beat—and win.
This isn’t just “good for what it is.” Sitaare Zameen Par is good, period.
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