Sitaare Zameen Par Review: Funny in Parts, But Far From the Emotional Depth of Taare Zameen Par

RATING - 3/5* ⭐⭐⭐

Sitaare Zameen Par Review Movie Talkies:

Aamir Khan's latest offering Sitaare Zameen Par arrives with the heavy tag of being a spiritual sequel to the classic Taare Zameen Par—a film I still consider his absolute best. And truth be told, it shouldn’t have tried to follow in those footsteps. Aamir himself has reiterated this point multiple times: Taare Zameen Par was meant to make you cry, while Sitaare Zameen Par is designed to make you laugh. And perhaps he said it so often because deep down, even he knew that matching the emotional weight and timeless sensitivity of TZP was a near-impossible task—not just for him, but for anyone else in the industry. Having already seen Campeones—the 2018 Spanish film this one is officially based on—I found there were zero surprises left. And not just me; a large chunk of the audience might feel déjà vu thanks to the familiar vibes we’ve seen in other Hindi films like Chhichhore. Sure, the excitement kicks in occasionally, especially during the training and match sequences, but the emotional high point that Taare Zameen Par reached in its last hour is simply never achieved here. However, Sitaare Zameen Par does shine brightly in its comedic moments—especially whenever the team of intellectually disabled players takes center stage. Their innocence, timing, and energy are what truly lift the film.

Sitaare Zameen Par Story:

The film is a Hindi remake of Campeones, so some of you might know the story already. For those unfamiliar: Gulshan (Aamir Khan) is a hot-headed, arrogant basketball coach who has no understanding of humility or emotional intelligence. After a heated argument with traffic police authorities, he’s sentenced to three months of community service. His punishment? Coaching a basketball team made up entirely of intellectually disabled players. When he first meets Team "Sitaare", he’s condescending, uninterested, and hopeless about their potential. But as time progresses, and as the players begin showing improvement both on and off the court, Gulshan finds himself growing alongside them. Slowly, his ego begins to melt, and a transformation takes root. The rest of the film charts this journey—how this coach, who started off as a broken man with zero empathy, ends up learning life lessons from the very people he was forced to coach.

Campeones Review: Fun, emotions, adult humor, and inspiration galore in this intellectually disabled but hilarious comedy

Story-wise, Sitaare Zameen Par does carry the soul of Campeones and it’s an inherently good narrative. However, it lacks the layered sensitivity that made Taare Zameen Par so unforgettable. That earlier film built a strong emotional current by showing the fragility and deep pain of a misunderstood child. In contrast, SZP flips that narrative completely. Here, the film doesn’t ask you to feel pity or sorrow for the intellectually disabled characters. Instead, they’ve already accepted who they are and learned to thrive within those limitations. It’s the so-called "normal" people who come across as flawed, arrogant, and in need of reform. The intent is clearly noble—challenging societal norms and flipping the gaze—but the execution leans too heavily on comedy, diluting the underlying message. Just like the original Spanish version, the film often prioritizes laughs over introspection.

Now, Campeones had quite a bit of adult humor, and to Sitaare Zameen Par's credit, it avoids crossing that line. But still, the film does carry some questionable humor involving words like “prostitute” and “momma’s boyfriend.” The laughs, however, are genuine. There are multiple laugh-out-loud sequences that are wild, unfiltered, and refreshingly unapologetic. The team "Sitaare" is the heart and soul of the film—and whenever they’re on screen, you can’t help but smile. These funny scenes work brilliantly, but the problem is tonal inconsistency. Every hilarious segment is followed by long, flat stretches of slow drama and half-baked emotional conversations. So, for every 10-minute wave of laugh-out-loud moments, you're made to sit through 15 minutes of passable-at-best storytelling and emotional filler.

Sitaare Zameen Par Cast:

Coming to performances, Aamir Khan was seen having fun all the time and it's surprising to see him back in this zone after a while. Though  his character seems to be overdoing with expressions, it felt like a demand of the character. Genelia Deshmukh, returning to a full-fledged Hindi role, struggles as well—her accent is inconsistent and her delivery awkward. Thankfully, the people playing the intellectually disabled team members bring in refreshing authenticity. These are not professional performers, but their raw honesty makes their presence far more impactful than most seasoned actors. Gurpal Singh, in particular, is outstanding. He gets the best lines, including the memorable: "Hamari kismat jo hai na, woh hatheli pe nahi, chromosome pe banke aati hai.” That line alone speaks volumes, and hits hard. Dolly Ahluwalia gets some fun moments too, while Brijendra Kala’s character adds an unexpected comic twist. The rest of the supporting cast does a decent job, but it’s really the “Sitaare” team that holds the film together.

Sitaare Zameen Par Movie Review:

Technically, the film is average. The music, sadly, is no match for Taare Zameen Par’s soul-stirring soundtrack, which was a big reason that film still lives in people’s hearts. Here, the background score fails to heighten emotions. Cinematography is functional—nothing remarkable. The editing could have been tighter, especially given the film’s fluctuating pace. You can tell that SZP wasn’t made on a grand budget; the production design often feels modest, if not basic. While the color palette tries to match TZP’s aesthetic value, the overall filmmaking finesse is miles behind. Director R.S. Prasanna tries to steer this socially relevant story in a direction that balances entertainment with awareness. He succeeds to a degree, especially in mining the comedic potential of the setup, but falls short on emotional heft. The film could have benefitted from stronger character arcs and a more consistent emotional thread. Some scenes lift the energy and heart of the film sky-high, while others feel like padding that drag the narrative down. Still, all things considered, Sitaare Zameen Par is not a bad film. It’s certainly more enjoyable than Laal Singh Chaddha. It might not have the emotional purity of Taare Zameen Par, but it is undoubtedly funnier. And more importantly, it celebrates a group of people who deserve to be seen and heard. If nothing else, these “Sitaare” are the reason the film deserves a big-screen viewing.

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