Common Sense Media Review
By Sakhi Thirani, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 13+
Drama about a boy's struggles with dyslexia; some violence.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Like Stars on Earth (aka Taare Zameen Par) is a poignant Indian drama with plenty of positive messages around compassion, communication, empathy, and perseverance. Ishaan (Darsheel Safary) is an eight-year-old boy who struggles in school due to his undiagnosed dyslexia. Thinking he's deliberately disobedient, his father sends him to a boarding school where he meets art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan), who seems to be the only one capable of understanding him. There are numerous physical fights between children; some bloody cuts and gashes are visible. Children are also slapped, smacked, scolded, and hit with rulers. In one scene, a child is seen leaning over a railing, briefly contemplating suicide. Language includes "idiot," "shut up," "God," "dammit," etc., and Ishaan is called "mentally retarded." There is a brief mention of tripping on cannabis. The film is in Hindi with English subtitles.
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Violence & Scariness
some
A child contemplates suicide. There are several brawls between kids that cause scrapes and bruises. A child is slapped on multiple occasions and scolded repeatedly. Characters smack each other playfully. A person throws a lit firecracker at someone; no injury. Someone throws chalk at a child and later hits them with a ruler. A character bunks school and wanders on the road by themselves. The movie shows how some children are more vulnerable to being forced into child labor.
See AlsoLike Stars on Earth | Rotten TomatoesLike Stars on Earth (2007)‘Holding Space’ for ‘Defying Gravity’: Viral ‘Wicked’ Journalist on Getting Recognized in Public, Selling Merch and What on Earth She MeantDid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Language
some
"Idiot," "duffer," "shut up," "get out," "shameless," "dammit," "bloody," "worthless," "brats," and "crazy." "God" is used as an exclamation. A child with dyslexia is called "mentally retarded" by another character.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Mention of tripping on cannabis.
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Positive Messages
a lot
Every child is special and unique in their own way. Pressurizing kids into scoring better grades is wrong. One should not be afraid of being different from the norm.
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Positive Role Models
a lot
Ishaan is a free-spirited and utterly creative young boy. He stays resilient even when no one understands his dyslexia. Ram Shankar Nikumbh is an honest and determined teacher. He stands with Ishaan and helps him learn at a rate he is comfortable with. Yohaan, Ishaan's brother, and Rajan, Ishaan's friend, support and care for him throughout.
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Diverse Representations
a lot
All characters are Indian with the film panning across Mumbai. Characters have dyslexia, developmental disorders, and locomotor disabilities but they are not defined by their condition.
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Where to Watch
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Like Stars on Earth
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What's the Story?
LIKE STARS ON EARTH follows eight-year-old Ishaan (Darsheel Safary), a carefree young boy who struggles with his grades in school. Unable to understand him, his father forcefully sends him to a boarding school. Will his new art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan), be able to help him?
Is It Any Good?
In this bittersweet Indian drama, fierce writing, heartwarming tunes, and adorable animations are all intricately interwoven together. Like Stars on Earth (aka Taare Zameen Par) reveals harsh truths about the education system's failure to accommodate diversity due to its obsession with uniformity and discipline. The ruthless competition and unfair stress children have to face is poignantly critiqued through the vulnerability that Safary's portrayal of Ishaan delivers. Intense, gripping, and emotionally intimate, the film deliciously explores Ishaan's rich interior world that sharply contrasts his exterior one where he's constantly ridiculed. A simple tale that's both sensitive and sensible, and a film that shouldn't be missed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Like Stars on Earth portrayed dyslexia. How did the ignorance around this learning condition impact Ishaan and his family? How can media help us gain a better understanding of certain things?
How was Ram Shankar Nikumbh's approach to Ishaan different from his fellow teachers? What makes a good teacher? Talk about your own favorite teachers and why you like them.
Which characters displayed traits of empathy, compassion, communication, and perseverance in the film? Why are they such important character strengths to have?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 21, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : January 12, 2010
- Cast : Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan, Tanay Chheda
- Directors : Aamir Khan, Amole Gupte
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian directors, Indian/South Asian actors, Female actors
- Studio : UTV Motion Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths : Communication, Compassion, Empathy, Perseverance
- Run time : 165 minutes
- MPAA rating : PG
- MPAA explanation : thematic material, brief violence and language
- Last updated : September 21, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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