It takes a talented and secure actor like Aamir Khan, who is confident enough of his own craft to take a backseat and let a 15 year old girl’s character take centre stage. 'Secret Superstar' is a Zaira Wasim film and visibly Aamir Khan takes pride in being a part of it.
The superstar who just introduced us to a 1000 club in Bollywood with 2016 release Dangal is back with Secret Superstar. It’s his only release for 2017 and his whole hearted attempt at cheering for young and new talent in Bollywood. Apart from being first release for any Dangal girl, it also marks the directorial debut for his former manager Advait Chandan.
Secret Superstar is a film about 15 year girl from Baroda who dreams of becoming a singer. Not just that, she even dreams of rescuing her mother from the clutches of an abusive and cold-hearted father. That explains her why she becomes a youtube sensation with burqa on. From turbulent times of Malik house to her flight to freedom, this film explores her journey in fulfilling her dreams. After all the tagline says, Dreams dekhna toh basic hota hai’.
Aamir Khan plays Shakti Kumaarr, a self obsessed music composer who ends up playing the guardian angel in Insiya’s life. While Aamir Khan has been saying all this while that he is playing a cheap character, his character is not a mentor but ‘mental’…but we just couldn’t hate his cheapness. Even when he makes orgasmic sounds for a song, even when he is dressed in tight fitted jeans with bling patches on his sweatshirts and even he is obnoxiously staring at women around him in the role of Shakti Kumarr. No, not even Sexy Baliye moves cannot be labelled cringe worthy…courtesy Aamir Khan. Yes, this character looks quite different from Mahavir form Dangal or Rancho from 3Idiots or from PK. But he is a delight to watch on screen, there is a humane touch to his quirky exterior in the film and especially in his scenes with Zaira.
Zaira Wasim has not let down her mentor once again. This actress from Kashmir looks as convincing in the role of singer as much as she did while playing a wrestler in Dangal. She expresses the restlessness for fulfilling her dream to sing, her pain and anguish of seeing her father beating up her mother with full conviction as well. Meher Vij’s brilliant in her part and the two look believable in the role of mother-daughter.
Be prepared to cry a lot. Insiya Malik’s journey and her ups and downs will make you emotional. If Taare Zameen Par song, ‘Tujhe sab hai pata hai na ma’ brings out the cry baby in you each time, then ‘meri pyari ammi’ number and the climax will make your sob and how. Her equation with her little brother Guddi is heartwarming and the school romance with Chintan will take you back to the classroom.
Just like Dangal, Secret Superstar too gives out an important message on gender equality and is handled with lots of care and affection.
So this Diwali, let us light up the world with love and relish the beautiful message by Aamir Khan film
