Stars of Stars Review/Photo- Instagram
Smita Srivastava, Mumbai. I would be the only mother in the world who would want her children to leave this world before I do. If this happens it will kill me, but I will not die worrying about their safety. When the mother of a special child says this sentence in the documentary ‘Sitaron Ke Sitaare’, her eyes fill with tears. This sentence is not the result of any cruelty, but of the deep fear, helplessness and contempt from society that such parents live with every day.
This sensitive documentary by director Shanib Bakshi, who stars in this year's film Sitare Zameen Par, presents unseen aspects of the lives of a special child and his parents in a very honest manner. These children seen playing basketball in the film had never even seen, let alone play, basketball, but this documentary talks in detail about how acting gave a new dimension to their lives. In the coming days, this documentary will be released on Aamir Khan Talkies channel on YouTube.
What is the story of stars of stars?
The documentary begins with the dreams of these parents. Like every normal family, the aspiration is to have a healthy, normal child, but after some time of birth, when different symptoms start appearing in the children, then the reality gradually comes to the fore. Some have Down syndrome (this can involve delays in a person's physical and mental development, as well as some medical problems), some have autism.
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The brain of a person with autism works differently from others, which can lead to difficulty with social interaction, communication, and certain behaviors. Many parents admit that they were not mentally prepared for this. Some talked about crying bitterly, while some even admitted thoughts like leaving the child somewhere in a moment of weakness.
Although he never shared his pain with anyone. The challenges of parenting emerge in detail here. Insensitivity of society, taunts of relatives, neglect of neighbors and abnormal behavior of normal children, all these leave deep wounds on the minds of parents along with children. Not being invited to birthday parties, being isolated in school, these small incidents become unbearable pain for parents. Some parents adopt music, art and sports as therapy so that their children can grow and gain confidence in it. Even though these children do not learn fast, they definitely learn.
Rishi Shahani is a living example of this, who by winning the Para-Olympic gold medal in swimming in 1999 proved that the limits are often set by the society, not the capabilities. The camera also peeks into the emotional world of these children where they have desires like love, friendship, girlfriend and marriage, which are often ignored by the society.
Children's confidence will touch your heart
The auditions and shooting scenes make the documentary special. The enthusiasm of the children regarding the shooting, their passion for learning and their confidence in front of the camera is heart touching. During the shooting, Sitare Zameen film director R. Prasanna and Aamir Khan's patience and affection with the children is worth seeing. Aamir Khan himself also shares his experiences of working with these children, which further strengthens the human aspect of the film.
While watching the documentary, sometimes the eyes become moist and sometimes the throat gets choked. This is not just the story of children, but also the struggle of parents who grapple with the same question as they grow older: What will happen to our children after us? Their biggest fear is hidden in this worry.
Documentary is an attempt to show a mirror to the society
However, ‘Sitaron Ke Sitaare’ is not just a documentary but an attempt to show a mirror to the society. It breaks the myth that being a special child is not the result of any ‘sin of previous birth’. Aamir Khan's initiative is commendable because through this medium he has presented the loneliness, pain and social rejection of the parents in a powerful and sensitive manner. This documentary gives the message that these 'stars' also need respect and love. In one scene, Aamir Khan says that he has been judged all his life but he does not judge anyone. The meaning is that the real greatness of a human being lies in accepting others without judging, these children also want the same.
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