Secret Superstar - Simply wonderful

Dear Friends,

Greetings!

After seven consecutive posts on running tips and running experiences, here I am with one of my favorite hobbies - writing a movie review. Today I watched this weekend release movie "Secret Superstar" coming from the stable of Aamir Khan productions. 

Plot: The movie is about a high school girl Insiya (Zahira Wasim of Dangal fame) coming from a middle class Muslim family in Vadodara. Insiya, blessed with a gifted voice, nurtures the dream of becoming a singing superstar. Her partner in chasing the dream is her ever supporting mother Najma (Meher Vij) who had bought Insiya a guitar when the latter was just six years old. Insiya's family also comprises her grandmother, a cute kid brother and the villain of her life, her father Farooq (Raj Arjun). Farooq with patriarchal attitude can do all the things which can crush the dream of his child. He doesn't have any care his girl child and goes to the extent of beating his wife brutally for supporting Zahira. But Insiya is a fighter, she finds a way to gain the popularity by recording her singing videos covering her face under burqa and then uploading them on Youtube. The videos become viral attracting the attention from Big B himself. Also impressed is over the board music director Shakti Kumaarr (Aamir Khan himself) who invites Insiya for recording for his movie. Though Insiya hates Kumaarr for his eccentric behavior on a singing reality show she accepts the invitation to get her work done. Helping her in connecting with Kumaarr is her school sweetheart Chintan who loves her to the core. Meanwhile Farooq gets a job in Saudi and plans to shift with family. Also he has the plan to get the minor Insiya married to a rich person in Saudi. What happens next? Will Insiya succeed in becoming the singing superstar? Will she overcome her father's suppression? Answers form the rest of the story. 

Direction: Director Advait Chandan has done an amazing job in coming up with a great screenplay without going overboard in all aspects. He has managed the Aamir Khan's character with aplomb without straying away from the story just to highlight the presence of superstar. Also he has used the Youtube, Facebook and Twitter aspects wisely. The teenage love showcased in the film is very sweet and very near to the reality. Hats off to Advait! 

Star Cast: Zahira Wasim has continued the good work from Dangal. She is cute, natural and fits perfectly to the role. It is good that the director has portrayed Zahira as a school going girl not adding any glamour quotient to her role. She also seems to have not tried to be someone special. She has talent and if everything goes well can become a big name in Bollywood in future. Meher Vij plays the role of Insiya's mother and her role is as important as Insiya's. The emotions displayed, be it as a supporting/caring/loving mother or a suppressed but obedient wife have been near perfect. Her performance is so good that no one can agree more on the ending message of the film which dedicates the film to all mothers. Raj Arjun as a father with patriarchal attitude has done his job well. Tirth Sharma playing the role Chintan looks very cute and adorable. 

But the entertainment quotient of the film goes to Aamir Khan playing the character of a struggling music director Shakti Kumaarr who keeps himself in news for all wrong reasons - multiple affairs, divorces, bashing up the contestants as a reality show judge and what not! His funky hair style, body hugging outfits, mannerisms and the dance moves keeps the audience in splits. Especially the last song during the credits roll out is hilarious. I was almost ROFL. That is the greatness of Aamir Khan. He can do any role to the perfection! If you observe closely one may get the feeling that Aamir has done a kind of Balancing Act with this movie!

Also the film has shown the current music trends of Bollywood in a lighter vein! One of judges saying "I will give 10 marks just for your cuteness..." in a reality show and Shakti Kumaarr admitting remixing a song written with good and well meaning lyrics with louder and disco music just to please the producers are few of the scenes which show the harsh reality of our film music industry. Also Shakti's analogy of bubbles coming to the top of a soda drink when he speaks about the real talent wherever they are find a way to come out irrespective of participating in a reality show or not is very apt.  

Thumbs up for the film, go and watch.

Thank you for reading :)

Regards,

Chetan