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Plot Summary
Mumbai, India
Ishaan is the second child in a middle-class Awasthi family. The 8-year-old boy is surrounded by “unhappy” and “unlucky” things. Everything he does seems to go wrong no matter how he tries. His world is filled with a thought that no one really cares about him. So, he only finds enjoyable playing with colors, fish, dogs and kites, not homework, marks and neatness. His older brother, Yohan, however, excels in his studies and always makes his parents proud of him.
When Ishaan continues to fail in his class, hides his reports from his parents and often misses school, his dad decides to send Ishaan to a boarding school far away from home. His parents only visit him only once a week at weekends. Things are still the same at Ishaan’s new school and the school principal even decides to rusticate him. He feels more stressful at school with the added trauma of separation from his family.
One day a new art teacher appears. Mr. Ram creates a new educational environment for his students. He inspires his class with joy and optimism. He breaks all the rules of how things are done. He asks his students to think, dream, imagine and put them into their drawings. All the children respond with enthusiasm, except Ishaan. Mr. Ram realizes that Ishaan have dyslexia – a rare problem in reading as the teacher experienced it before. He thinks that Ishaan may be a genius in drawings as he tries to help Ishaan overcome the reading problem. They gradually understand each other and with time, patience, and care, Mr. Ram finally helps Ishaan to find himself.
Mr. Ram also offers the school to host an art event where all the children and even the teachers join in. The purpose of the event is to find out the most beautiful drawing. Not everyone has talented in drawing, but all people enjoy the event as they can draw whatever they want. Mr. Ram’s and Ishaan’s drawings are the most beautiful ones. Finally, the special award belongs to Ishaan. Ishaan overcomes all the problems that make him scared of school. Moreover, his parents realize that their care is the most important thing for the development of their children.
What’s in it for me?
Every child is special. That’s what I can realize from the film. Children, especially children in Asian countries have suffered a lot because the heavy of school curriculum and the pressure that their parents and their teachers put on their studying. They want to see good marks and good behaviors from their children. The result is that most of children seem to be the same like robots. The movie shows that a child is not a “thing” that parents can put their hopes and ambitions into, forming him or her into a perfect child. It’s different from many developed countries in the world where children have time to play and school is a place for children to develop their unique skills and abilities. I was in the situation of Ishaan when studying in my country. But I was also fortunate when having a chance to studying abroad. Therefore, I know the importance of good care from both parents and teachers.
The movie also shines a light on the problem of dyslexia and portrays it relatively accurately. Parents and teachers have to be careful on judging children based on the children’s marks in class. Instead, both parents and teachers should put a good care on children and be a part of children’s development.
Who’s in the movie?
Director:
Aamir Khan. He’s successful as both director and actor, and one of the famous figure in Bollywood. Amir Khan received countless awards of the International Indian Film Academy. He also won Central European Bollywood Award for Best Actor with 3 Idiots (2009)
Stars:
Darsheel Safary. With this movie, Darsheel received many nominations and awards for Best Actor.
Ratings
People like this movie should watch
3 Idiots (2009)
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)
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