This task was assigned by Professor Megha Trivedi, ma’am, as a thoughtful extension of the R.K. Narayan short story included in our syllabus, aiming to deepen our understanding of its themes.
Sitaare Zameen Par: A Journey in the Heart Education
“Sometimes, stars are not just in the sky. They walk among us quiet, misunderstood, and brilliant in their own way.”
🎟️ Introduction: A Classroom in a Theatre
As students of literature and life, we are often taught to look beyond the text to feel, to reflect, and to respond. Recently, our class had the privilege of watching “Sitaare Zameen Par” in the theatre as part of our academic activity. The movie was not just a continuation of Aamir Khan’s earlier masterpiece Taare Zameen Par (2007), but a standalone reflection on the pressing issues of education, disability, empathy, and the emotional world of children.
Just a few days before the screening, we had studied R.K. Narayan’s short story “Crime and Punishment” a compact but powerful narrative that examines the teacher-student relationship in post-colonial India. While the story and the film belong to different times and contexts, they both force us to ask:
What is the true purpose of education? And who is a true teacher?
This blog is a humble attempt to explore these questions through a comparative reflection of the short story and the movie — and most importantly, through what I personally felt, experienced, and learnt from them.
Sitaare Zameen Par. Directed by Aamir Khan, performances by Aamir Khan, Indian Film Company, 2024 trailer :
How the Movie Portrays the Education System
In Sitaare Zameen Par, the education system is portrayed not as a nurturing garden, but often as a factory — mechanical, uniform, and unforgiving. The film takes us into the lives of children with disabilities, a group frequently neglected by mainstream schooling practices. These children are not lazy, nor incapable — they are simply different, and the system doesn’t know what to do with that difference.
The film raises uncomfortable but necessary questions:
- Why is there so little space for emotional intelligence, creativity, and individuality in our schools?
- Why is success only measured in terms of academic excellence and competition?
- Why do we use shame and punishment as motivators?
We see how children are burdened with expectations from a very young age. They are forced to “perform” rather than learn, to “score” rather than understand. The education system shown in the movie is not evil — but it is blind. Blind to the unique rhythms of each child. Blind to the emotional cost of ignoring special needs. And most dangerously, blind to the inner worlds of students who are crying out to be seen.
The Role of Teachers and Parents: More than Just Authority
One of the most powerful aspects of Sitaare Zameen Par is how it presents teachers and parents not as villains, but as flawed, pressured, and often unaware individuals. Yet, it offers a beautiful contrast between two types of educators and caregivers:
The Conventional Ones:
Teachers who follow a fixed curriculum, evaluate all students by the same standards, and discipline them when they fail to “fit in.”
Parents who unknowingly impose their dreams and fears on their children, without pausing to understand their true needs.
The Transformational Ones:
The protagonist (played by Aamir Khan) becomes a beacon of hope. He does not treat the children as subjects to be fixed, but as souls to be understood.
He brings play, art, empathy, and deep listening into the classroom.
He questions societal norms, redefines achievement, and believes in accepting children as they are.
Through him, the movie teaches us that a real teacher is one who touches not just the mind, but the heart. And a real parent is not one who only pushes for success, but who stands beside the child even in silence, in struggle, and in imperfection.
A Comparison with R.K. Narayan’s “Crime and Punishment
At first glance, R.K. Narayan’s Crime and Punishment seems very different from this modern, emotionally layered film. But deep down, both deal with the same theme: the flawed dynamics of teaching and learning.
In Narayan’s story:
A home tutor is frustrated by a young boy who refuses to take studies seriously.
The tutor uses physical punishment to assert authority, believing it will improve the boy’s performance.
However, when the boy accuses him of beating, the teacher is suddenly thrown into panic and guilt.
In the end, the boy manipulates the situation, leaving the teacher powerless and introspective.
This short story reflects the rigid discipline-based education model of colonial and post-colonial India, where teachers were feared more than respected. The use of fear as a tool for learning is a central concern.
🎥 In the movie:
Aamir Khan’s character is the antithesis of Narayan’s tutor.
He never raises his voice, let alone a hand.
He believes in love over fear, understanding over discipline.
His focus is not to fix the child, but to rebuild the self-esteem of every misunderstood student.
🔄 What connects both?
Both texts reveal the inner crisis of the educator.
In Narayan’s story, the teacher is broken by guilt.
In Sitaare Zameen Par, the teacher is driven by compassion.
But both leave us asking:
Are we punishing our children for not meeting our expectations, or are we failing to meet theirs?
💭 My Personal Reflection: What I Learnt
Sitting in the theatre, I found myself in tears at moments — not just because of what was happening on screen, but because of what it made me feel within. I thought of:
The times I saw someone being mocked for learning differently.
The pressure we place on children to “prove” their worth.
The moments when silence in a classroom meant pain, not indiscipline.
From this movie and from Narayan’s story, I learnt:
That children carry invisible wounds. And sometimes, a teacher’s kind word can be the only healing.
That academic performance should never come at the cost of psychological well-being.
That the true classroom is not defined by a blackboard — it is built on trust, patience, and love.
"From Real Life to Reel Life: The Inspiring Journeys of the Sitaare Zameen Par Cast"
Beyond the Screen: How Sitaare Zameen Par Redefines Inclusion
- (Guddu):Gopi Krishnan Varma
- India's first lead actor with Down syndrome. His character, Guddu, radiates confidence and proves that everyone deserves a spotlight, mirroring Gopi's own achievements, like holding a record in the India Book of Records.
- (Hargovind):Naman Misra
- Just like his character, Naman lives with invisible autism. He embodies a focused and determined spirit, demonstrating how neurodiverse individuals can thrive with support.
- (Sharmaji):Rishi Shahani
- A former Special Olympics medalist swimmer, Rishi brings humor, confidence, and pride in his abilities to his role.
- (Raju):Rishabh Jain
- Rishabh, who has Fragile-X syndrome, injects warmth and comedic timing into the character of Raju.
- (Sunil Gupta):Ashish Pendse
- Ashish's gentle demeanor and dedication shine through in his character, reminding viewers that every personality adds value.
- (Golu Khan):Simran Mangeshkar
- She portrays a fiercely independent and sassy girl with an intellectual disability. Simran challenges stereotypes about girls with disabilities, demonstrating strength and style.
- (Karim Qureshi):Samvit Desai
- His portrayal of a kind and empathetic hotel staffer emphasizes the importance of inclusion through interpersonal warmth.
- (Lotus):Aayush Bhansali
- Aayush's character, obsessed with dyeing his hair, celebrates self-expression and flamboyance
Conclusion: Building a Better Educational Future
Crime and Punishment and Sitaare Zameen Par are not just story and movie — they are mirrors. They show us what education often is, and what it could become. In a world obsessed with marks and medals, they remind us that every child is a sitaara — a star — waiting to be recognized. And so, as students, future educators, and members of a society that shapes young minds, let us ask:
Are we creating classrooms of competition or communities of care?
Are we correcting mistakes, or connecting with minds?
Because real education does not begin with textbooks
…it begins with empathy.
References:
Narayan, R. K. Malgudi days. Penguin Publishing Group, 2006.
Prasanna, R. S., director. Sitaare Zameen Par. 2025. Aamir Khan Productions, 2025.
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