Most of the children in the film are between eight and 10 years," Aamir says. "They have little inhibitions at that age, and I wanted them to remain that way. I did not want to intimidate them in any way."
"After all, this film is about children being allowed to be children, and how important it is for the educators to win over the children and make them productive by offering them fun. It is about bringing out the creativity in them."
"It is against the authoritarian outlook many adults, including parents and teachers, have towards children. So it was imperative that, on the sets of the film, the children were given the kind of encouragement and opportunity to laugh as they got to do on the screen."
Taare Zameen Par centres on a troubled child and how an unconventional teacher (Aamir) takes it upon himself to change the boy's personality.
Given his stature as a star, and his clout in the industry, why did he go for a small and intimate film? "It is a small film," Aamir answers. "But in its essence, it is a big film dealing with issues that affect children in India. That means we are looking at the next generation."
"Taare Zameen Par is not a film that was made overnight. My friend and colleague Amole Gupte, with the help of his wife Deepa Bhatia (who has edited the film), had been thinking about it for over seven years. The script that I read about three years ago moved me immensely. It touched my heart and made me cry. It also made me feel very good about life."
"Amole has done a great job with the writing. It is an uplifting script but it goes around doing it without resorting to melodrama or forced situations."
Also read: Made for kids
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