Aamir Khan, one of India’s most bankable leading men, takes the reins as director, producer and star in this family-friendly Bollywood film. Eight year old Ishaan (Darsheel Safary) is a creative and sensitive boy who just can’t seem to buckle down and make good grades in school. He paints, he fights, he is constantly in trouble, and finally his parents have no choice but to send him to boarding school. Things don’t go much better for Ishaan until the new art teacher (Khan) finds a way to connect with him, breaking his silence and ending his frustration. What Ishaan’s parents and teachers don’t know is that he is dyslexic. Stars on Earth won several Filmfare awards in India, and even garnered a Best Actor nod for young Darsheel Safary in his first role. The film takes a serious look at learning disabilities and schooling in India, which will be more interesting for adults, but it remains hopeful and fun, aware that children will be a large percentage of its audience. Subtitles can be challenging for children, but the movie is full of brilliant imagery and fun, upbeat songs (by Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy, a famous Bollywood composing team), all of which flesh out the story even if the Hindi lyrics remains unclear to the young viewers.

(In Hindi;  English subtitles)