Last night I had a dream about Aamir Khan.
This was quite unusual, because I generally don’t dream about movie stars (gone are the days or nights when I would dream about Salman Khan and George Clooney, but sadly, it seems I have grown up).
I distinctly remember most of the dream and the conversation I had with Aamir, in the dream.
A day or two back, I was re-watching the movie Taare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan’s directorial debut that features a super-creative and dyslexic child protagonist. As always, I was deeply touched with Aamir’s understanding of the subject and the way he handled all the sensitive issues. I guess I was subconsciously thinking about it, and hence the dream.
Which led me to think about the many relationships and issues that Aamir Khan has continued to portray through his movies.
Dil Chahta Hai
Image Credit: Movie – Dil Chahta Hai
For me, this remains the cult movie about friendship and the relationship that true buddies share. If you grew up as a 90s child, or if you have gone back in time and watched the movie, you may agree that Aamir’s portrayal of the extremely outgoing Akash could remind you of at least one such friend of yours. From bugging his friends to covering up for them and later giving in to outbursts, this was one strong bond of friendship that did justice to both the happiness and the anger that true friends share.
Taare Zameen Par
Image Credit: Movie – Taare Zameen Par
His directorial debut remains one of the best movies Aamir Khan has been a part of and also received the Filmfare and National Film Award for the best film in 2008. The movie is about 8 year old Ishaan, a dyslexic child, and art teacher Nikumbh (played by Aamir) and the relationship he shares with his student, which eventually helps the child to come out of his shell and get back his self-confidence and his carefree childhood. Through this movie, Aamir explores the extremely sensitive topic of the Indian academic structure where children are expected to get the highest grades, irrespective of whether they understand and learn or not. The entire movie is interspersed with thoughtful insights about how a society should care for its children, from caring for specially-abled children to being sensitive to the needs of children who are born in less privileged environments.
Lagaan
Image Credit: Movie – Lagaan
Who can forget Bhuvan, the simple village character who goes on to assemble an amateur group of villagers who take on the mighty Raj rulers and defeat them in their own game so that they are not charged excessive lagaan? While there were a lot of outstanding social emotional issues going on in this movie that was produced by Aamir Khan and also got nominated for the Academy Awards, it was the strong yet subtle relationship portrayed between Bhuvan and the British lady Elizabeth Russell (portrayed by Rachel Shelley) that caught the audience’s eye. What was otherwise unthinkable back then, the characters form a beautiful friendship which is purely innocent and refreshing to watch, and is much against the norms of society back then (and even now).
The beauty of Aamir Khan movies is that almost all of them have some strong human connect, be it the recent Dangal, Secret Superstar or even PK.
Read Also: Movies That Show The Changing Dynamics Of Relationships
