Bhumi Mahida: Movie review - Sitare Zameen Par

Movie review - Sitare Zameen Par

This blog is a movie review of Sitare Zameen Par, a film based on R.K. Narayan’s short story Crime and Punishment. This task was assigned by Megha Trivedi Ma'am.

Introduction of Crime and Punishment :

R.K. Narayan’s short story Crime and Punishment explores the complex relationship between a teacher and a mischievous student in a typical Indian setting. Set in the fictional town of Malgudi, the story reflects Narayan’s trademark style of blending humor with subtle moral questions. It centers on a home tutor who struggles to discipline a spoiled boy, only to find himself blackmailed and manipulated. Through simple language and everyday situations, Narayan raises important questions about authority, discipline, fear, and the consequences of one’s actions. The story is both engaging and thought-provoking, revealing the deeper psychological dynamics between adults and children.

Background of Sitare Zameen Par :

Sitare Zameen Par is a heart-touching Bollywood film that focuses on the emotional and psychological journey of a young boy struggling with learning difficulties. Directed by Aamir Khan, the movie sheds light on the challenges faced by children with dyslexia and the lack of understanding from parents and teachers. Through the compassionate efforts of an art teacher, the boy gradually regains his confidence and discovers his true potential. The film beautifully emphasizes the importance of empathy, creative teaching, and recognizing every child's unique abilities. Sitare Zameen Par is not just a story of struggle, but a powerful message about acceptance and support in education.

How does the movie portray the education system?

1. Rejection of Normative Pedagogy

Initially, Gulshan represents a conventional authority figure—task-focused, success-oriented, and emotionally distant. His struggle to connect with intellectually challenged players reflects the failure of mainstream educational systems to accommodate diverse cognitive and emotional needs. His discomfort mirrors how many teachers and institutions react to neurodivergent or differently-abled students—with impatience, confusion, or avoidance.

2. Recognition of Individual Needs

As Gulshan gradually understands his players' unique struggles—such as Guddu’s phobia—he shifts from a uniform training model to a differentiated and empathetic approach. This marks a transition from the “one-size-fits-all” education system to an inclusive framework that adapts to learners rather than forcing learners to adapt to the system.

3. Emotional Literacy and Alternative Education

The team’s journey emphasizes emotional growth, mutual trust, and experiential learning, which are often marginalized in traditional schooling. Gulshan himself becomes a learner, confronting personal fears and emotional blocks—symbolizing how teachers too must undergo transformation to educate meaningfully. His realization that “they were coaching him” critiques the hierarchical student-teacher dynamic and redefines learning as a shared, reciprocal process.

4. Success Redefined

Though the team loses the tournament, the film celebrates their progress and unity. This subverts the marks-and-medals mindset of formal education, arguing that true learning lies not in winning but in evolving, both personally and collectively. It repositions failure not as defeat, but as a necessary part of growth—an idea rarely accommodated in conventional classrooms.

5. From Exclusion to Belonging

The film imagines an education system where every learner—regardless of ability—is seen, heard, and valued. It critiques the systemic marginalization of those who don’t meet standard criteria and offers an inclusive vision grounded in compassion, diversity, and patience.

Conclusion

The movie presents an alternative educational philosophy—one that challenges rigid hierarchies, celebrates emotional connection, and acknowledges the mutual learning process between teacher and student. It advocates for an education system that moves beyond textbooks and tests, toward a model rooted in understanding, transformation, and human dignity.

What message does the movie give about the role of teachers and parents?

1. Teachers as Nurturers, Not Enforcers

The film challenges the conventional role of teachers as rigid authorities focused solely on academic performance. Through the transformation brought by the art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh, it redefines the teacher’s role as one of caregiver, motivator, and guide. Nikumbh’s approach—centered on observation, patience, and creativity—highlights the importance of recognizing the individual learning style of each student. He exemplifies a pedagogy based on compassion, not compliance, thereby humanizing the teacher-student relationship.

2. Parents as Listeners, Not Judges

The film equally critiques parental roles, particularly the tendency to impose societal expectations on children without understanding their inner world. Ishaan’s parents, especially his father, initially embody this error—judging the child by his grades rather than his abilities. The narrative stresses that parenting must be grounded in understanding rather than ambition, and that emotional neglect can be as harmful as physical punishment.

3. The Need for Emotional Intelligence

Both teachers and parents are urged to develop emotional literacy—the ability to perceive, interpret, and respond to a child’s emotional state. The film suggests that without this sensitivity, adults may misread distress as defiance and end up worsening the child’s struggles.

4. Shared Responsibility and Self-Reflection

The story also emphasizes that education is not limited to the classroom. The child’s well-being and development depend on a shared responsibility between home and school. Teachers and parents must not only teach, but also learn—about their children, about themselves, and about better ways to support and connect.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Sitare Zameen Par conveys that a child’s success lies not in conforming to external standards, but in being nurtured with empathy and guided with patience. It calls for a transformation in how teachers and parents understand their roles—not as moulders of children, but as guardians of their potential.

How does it compare with the story?

Comparison: Sitare Zameen Par and Crime and Punishment by R.K. Narayan

The Teacher-Student Relationship :

In Crime and Punishment, the teacher is depicted as a young, inexperienced man who tries to assert control over a mischievous student through punishment. However, his authority is undermined as the boy outsmarts and emotionally manipulates him. The teacher becomes helpless, caught between duty and moral uncertainty.

In contrast, Sitare Zameen Par presents an evolved teacher figure in Ram Shankar Nikumbh, who refuses to use fear or punishment. Instead, he understands his student’s emotional needs and adapts his methods accordingly. His success comes not from authority, but from empathy, creativity, and trust.

Discipline vs. Understanding :

Narayan’s story critiques a rigid, punishment-based educational mindset where children are seen as problems to be controlled. The child in the story wields unexpected power over the teacher, exposing the ineffectiveness of fear-based teaching.

Sitare Zameen Par takes this critique further by showing how such a system emotionally damages children like Ishaan. The film argues that understanding and support are more powerful than punishment in shaping a child’s future.

The Role of Parents :

In Crime and Punishment, the parent is largely absent from the narrative, but the boy’s behavior suggests he is indulged at home and spoiled, reinforcing the teacher’s isolation and lack of authority.

In Sitare Zameen Par, the parents—especially the father—represent societal pressure and academic expectations. They fail to understand Ishaan’s inner world until confronted with his emotional decline. Eventually, they undergo a transformation, learning to support rather than judge.

What did you feel or learn after watching the movie?

After watching Sitare Zameen Par, I felt very emotional and thoughtful. I learned that every child is unique and needs love, care, and understanding not pressure or punishment. The movie showed me how important it is for teachers and parents to support children with patience. It also made me realize that success is not only about marks or winning, but about confidence and self-worth.

Here i upload the pictures of our movie screening.