alphaphilipp This was the first but also the best Indian movie I watched. I rewatched it again weeks ago and it never fails to make me laugh, cry and be inspired in the end.It has a great message to convey. I also admire Aamir Khan because he is the director, producer and an actor in it too. He is my favorite Indian actor.Though only a movie, it is very much connected to reality. If ever I have children, I will let them watch it too hehe. ^.^

nicolascuervo Wow, it was the best movie I've ever seen in my life. I'm not going to write spoilers because I want that the peolple that haven't seen the movie yet just see why this movie made me cry... I'm very glad to have already seen this movie! Thanks God... 10/10

bardo100 After seeing other Aamir Khan movies I expected a lot less. But to be honest, this an ok movie (but nothing more). Don't think the movie is very different from other ones starring Aamir Khan though: - Again basic ethical problems and ideas are the basis for the subject of the movie. In here also lies a cultural difference, what might be accepted and understood in the west isn't allways in poor and underdeveloped countries like India. Again it show how terrible everyone is dealing with people they don't understand, how they are misjudged and forsaken and not appreciated enough. And again Aamir Khan's personage is the gooder that shows everyone how we should accept and treat people that don't precizely fit in our general picture of being a normal. Where would India be without it's saint Aamir Khan... Some of the elements I liked were the animated intermezzo's in the first hour of the movie where you get to know the inner world of Ishaan, (most of) the effects were nicely done and brought something extra, the fact that you really get to feel some sympathy for the boy and the acting is actually quite good. The songs in this movie weren't all that bothersome (except maybe the one where Aamir joins the movie, extremely over the top) and some actually add something to the movie, camerawork was fine.What I didn't like is the length of the movie. Some scenes are way too long and unnecessary. It's sometimes overdone, way too melodramatic, unrealistic. The characters are too stereotypical. I wasn't fond of the sudden change of perpective when Aamir joins the show (from the point of view of the little boy to that of the teacher). I would have liked the perspective of 'the boy that gets help from a teacher' instead of 'the teacher that helps a boy'. Even though Mr. Khan didn't show up until 75 minutes into the movie, it seems he's not thát modest to keep the focus on the boy instead of taking over the lead role.It's probably obvious that I really dislike the way Aamir Khan presents himself in his movies time and time again. Though I don't deny the good that the life lessons that are so important in his movies might do in a country like India, I can't help but feeling that it's all to maintain an image instead of genuinity. It would be nice to see someone else playing the role of gooder in one of his movies for a change.And sure, every child is special. But why must this be shown by an dyslectic kid doing something great? Everyone has his or her flaws and strengths, but most (at least 99%) of all dyslectic kids never achieve something like what is shown in the movie (just like at least 99% of all non-dyslectic kids) and are nevertheless special and deserve to be appreciated for their strengths. Off course the idea is that parents and teachers must never stop trying to find a childs true potential, but with this the movie contradicts it's own preaching: that someone doesn't have to be the best in anything to be loved, understood and appreciated.

classicsoncall Over the last few weeks I've watched about a half dozen Indian movies and almost all of them star Aamir Khan and offer extended scenes of colorful song and dance numbers. Being a new film experience for me, I thought those details were worth noting, as I don't know how far that stereotype goes.The story here, though a good one for it's subject material, I thought was almost too simplistic and straightforward, as one could pretty easily figure out what the outcome would be. The learning disability that young Ishaan (Darsheel Sagary) had wasn't some big mystery, but a simple case of dyslexia. For that reason, I couldn't understand why he wasn't taken more seriously when he made the statement in my summary line above during one of his classroom experiences. It seems a perceptive teacher should have picked up on that hint long before Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Khan) came along.There's a part of me that always wants to caution about the way a certain type of message is conveyed about children. The saying that 'every child is special' bothers me somewhat, in as much as if we elevate every child to that level, then we've simply redefined what's normal. So that winds up saying that if every child is special then no child is. The better way to phrase such a concept to my mind is that every child is special to someone, and that all children have the right to every opportunity life can afford them. I don't want to give the wrong impression here. I have four grandchildren and they're all special to me, even if they're not going to be world class athletes or the next Einstein. Or maybe one of them will, who knows?With that out of the way, I have to comment on the young actor portraying Ishaan. Darsheel Safary is more talented than a lot of adult actors I've seen, and ran through an amazing arc of emotions that I simply found incredible. I really can't imagine how he pulled off some of the scenes he was required to carry. Quite amazing to my mind, enough so that I would state that in this case, he was pretty special.