Every Child Is Special|Dec. 21, 2007|India|165 Min.|PG
Genre: Bollywood;Drama
Description: Ishaan Nandkishore Awasthi, an 8-year-old boy with dyslexia, struggles in school and is mistakenly thought to dislike learning, leading to constant criticism. Despite his extraordinary creativity, talent in art, and vivid imagination, these qualities are often overlooked. His father, Nandkishore Awasthi, a successful executive, expects high academic achievements from his children, while his mother, Maya Awasthi, feels helpless in helping Ishaan learn. Ishaan lives in the shadow of his elder brother, Yohan, who excels in both academics and sports. Frustrated by Ishaan’s repeated failures, his father sends him to a boarding school. Isolated and overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, Ishaan spirals into depression. His only solace is his friendship with Rajan Damodharan, a physically disabled but top-performing student. The boarding school’s harsh environment worsens Ishaan’s condition, and he even contemplates suicide, which Rajan prevents.
A turning point comes with the arrival of Ram Shankar Nikumbh, a compassionate art teacher from the Tulips School for children with developmental disabilities. Nikumbh’s cheerful and supportive teaching approach contrasts sharply with the strict methods of the previous teachers. He quickly notices Ishaan’s unhappiness and identifies his dyslexia as the root cause of his academic struggles. Nikumbh visits Ishaan’s parents in Mumbai, where he discovers the boy’s hidden passion for art and explains how dyslexia affects Ishaan’s ability to process letters and words. Despite Nandkishore initially dismissing the condition as laziness, he eventually realizes his mistake and regrets his harsh treatment of his son.
Back at school, Nikumbh raises awareness about dyslexia by highlighting famous individuals who overcame the same condition. He encourages Ishaan, sharing his own childhood struggles and helping him regain confidence.
Cast director: Aamir Khan
Cast actor: Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan, Tisca Chopra, Vipin Sharma, Tanay Chheda, Sachet Engineer, Girija Oak, Bugs Bhargava, Shankar Sachdev, Lalita Lajmi
Original name: तारे ज़मीन पर