Parents' Guide to Like Stars on Earth

Movie PG 2007 165 minutes
Like Stars on Earth movie poster: A smiling Indian eight-year-old boy and his teacher sit together in a classroom with their arms crossed.

Common Sense Media Review

Sakhi Thirani By Sakhi Thirani , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Drama about a boy's struggles with dyslexia; some violence.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Like Stars on Earth: An Indian eight-year-old boy focuses on his painting.
  • Like Stars on Earth: An Indian eight-year-old boy walks across the city, looking at pigeons.
  • Like Stars on Earth: An Indian eight-year-old boy and a young man sit together in a classroom, reading.

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

LIKE STARS ON EARTH follows eight-year-old Ishaan (Darsheel Safary), a carefree young boy who struggles with his grades in school. Unable to understand him, his father forcefully sends him to a boarding school. Will his new art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan), be able to help him?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

In this bittersweet Indian drama, fierce writing, heartwarming tunes, and adorable animations are all intricately interwoven together. Like Stars on Earth (aka Taare Zameen Par) reveals harsh truths about the education system's failure to accommodate diversity due to its obsession with uniformity and discipline. The ruthless competition and unfair stress children have to face is poignantly critiqued through the vulnerability that Safary's portrayal of Ishaan delivers. Intense, gripping, and emotionally intimate, the film deliciously explores Ishaan's rich interior world that sharply contrasts his exterior one where he's constantly ridiculed. A simple tale that's both sensitive and sensible, and a film that shouldn't be missed.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Like Stars on Earth portrayed dyslexia. How did the ignorance around this learning condition impact Ishaan and his family? How can media help us gain a better understanding of certain things?

  • How was Ram Shankar Nikumbh's approach to Ishaan different from his fellow teachers? What makes a good teacher? Talk about your own favorite teachers and why you like them.

  • Which characters displayed traits of empathy, compassion, communication, and perseverance in the film? Why are they such important character strengths to have?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Like Stars on Earth movie poster: A smiling Indian eight-year-old boy and his teacher sit together in a classroom with their arms crossed.

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