Ishaan Awasthi is an eight-year-old whose world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate. Colours, fish, dogs, and kites don't seem important to the adults, who are much more interested in things like homework, marks, and neatness. Ishaan cannot seem to get anything right in class; he is then sent to boarding school, where his life changes forever.
Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan, Tisca Chopra, Vipin Sharma, Tanay Chheda, Sachet Engineer, Girija Oak, Shankar Sachdev, Rajgopal Iyer, Ravi Khanvilkar, M. K. Raina, Meghna Malik, Lalita Lajmi, Ayaan, Veer Mohan, Aniket Engineer, Bugs Bhargava Krishna
Curator Review
Verdict
A heartfelt, emotionally direct drama about a misunderstood child and the teacher who helps him thrive. It’s sincere, moving, and especially rewarding if you like uplifting stories about education, empathy, and neurodivergence.
Best for
viewers who like tearjerker dramas with a hopeful payoff
parents, teachers, and students
audiences interested in dyslexia and child-centered storytelling
fans of socially conscious mainstream cinema
Skip if
you want a brisk, understated film with minimal sentimentality
you dislike melodrama or inspirational speeches
you prefer plot-driven stories over emotional character arcs
Overview
This is a deeply compassionate film that treats a child’s inner life with unusual seriousness. The early sections capture confusion, shame, and frustration with real sensitivity, while the later teacher-student relationship gives the story its emotional lift without losing sight of the child’s perspective.
Worth noting
What makes it resonate is the blend of warmth and advocacy. It’s not subtle, but it is sincere, and the film’s visual imagination helps externalize how overwhelming school can feel for a child who learns differently. The performances, especially by the young lead, give the drama its tenderness and credibility.
Bottom line
It does run long and occasionally leans hard into sentiment, yet the emotional release feels earned. For viewers open to a big-hearted, message-driven drama, it’s one of the more affecting mainstream films about education and childhood difference.
Top Letterboxd reviews
marcella (4★) · 1218 likes
can you believe that i literally spent HALF the movie CRYING??????
Edgar Cochran ✝️🍋 (3★) · 296 likes
The entire show is divided into two acts and one should approach the film as such: the first one builds, to the film's extents and possibilities, the troubled universe and the competitively predatory capitalist mentality that has engulfed the world, and the internal world of a misunderstood and tormented child with different capabilities and a richer vision of the world (excellent animation segments too, from the sweet opening credits to the memorable "3X9 = 3" segment). The mentality that governs… more The entire show is divided into two acts and one should approach the film as such: the first one builds, to the film's extents and possibilities, the troubled universe and the competitively predatory capitalist mentality that has engulfed the world, and the internal world of a misunderstood and tormented child with different capabilities and a richer vision of the world (excellent animation segments too, from the sweet opening credits to the memorable "3X9 = 3" segment). The mentality that governs… more
Darren Carver-Balsiger (3.5★) · 264 likes
I find Aamir Khan's commitment to bringing social issues to a mass audience to be very admirable. Between this and 3 Idiots there's clearly a message to de-stress education, let people learn in their own way, and encourage creativity.
Like Stars on Earth is well-intentioned and noble film, as well as one that seemed to have a positive impact in India that led to policy changes. It is a film about dyslexia, capturing the pain of a child who is… more
Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine (4★) · 246 likes
A Passage to India: Dawn of the Wobble
I remember coming across this film like a few years back, somewhere during that period where that war against the cult of Ghatak over here in LB was still fresh in my mind, and it took every desire I had of ever watching an Indian movie. So yeah, this one was a victim of those circumstances.
And many of the styles, humor, and fashion feel very much of their time and can… more
Lexi 🏳️🌈 (4.5★) · 241 likes
Every child is special, indeed. Everyone, especially parents and teachers, should know that. As a parent and teacher, you should be observant and learn to understand a kid's feelings. They can be hard to handle at times, but usually, they act like that because they're not understood. Listening to them will help you know their needs and better ways to guide them. They always need to be loved, feel seen, cared for, listened to, and understood.