#Secretesuperstar : It is not often that one comes across
two films in a year where Burkha instead of a sign of oppression becomes a
symbol of liberation. And that’s the irony of the world we live in and celebrate.
If “Lipstick Under the Burkha” exposed a
society buried deep under a labyrinth of hypocrisies full of scary feudal, myopic
mindset with deep rooted rudimentary ideologies, “Secret Superstar” takes the battle
head on and celebrates dream , hope
,mother , mother hood and the inherent desire to dream and right to live that dream.
At 3 AM in the night when her mom cajoles her to go to sleep
and not to waste her time dreaming, Insiya confronts her telling “ Sapne Dekhna
to basic hota hai , intna to subko allowed hona chahiye” . The depth and irony
of the statement straightaway comes and hits you. No one has any control on dreams, yet again
and again so many around the world are forced not to dream. And as a result so
many dreams die, some like those stillborn babies and some like unborn foetus
killed inside, brutally and silently. Unfortunately no one ever pauses to
notice the slow, painful death of the dreamer along with the dream. Insiya’s dream
is not just to become a superstar singer but also to free her mother from a
barbaric father. The film exposes domestic violence and its repercussion on children
at home.
Secrete Superstar beautifully explores the mother – daughter
relationship. Zaira Wasim and Meher Vij share a delightful chemistry. They
share each other’s happiness, helplessness and dream. Watch out as they break
into an impromptu dance when the man of the family leaves for work. Young Tirth
Sharma as Chintan takes one down a nostalgic trip to those good old school days.
He literally lights up the scenes where he is in. Chintan and Insiya’s innocence laden adolescence
love story is endearing. Aamir Khan once again shows the kind of investment
he does into his character. As a loud, irritating, cheesy music director Shakti
Kumar, khan gets that rare chance to play to the gallery (post Rangeela) and he
delivers with elan.
In spite of a predictable storyline and a convenient and
manipulative screen play, I walked out the auditorium with a lump in my throat
and dream in my eyes. And that for me is a sure sign of a winner.
Alright then, To Mothers, to Mother hood, To sacrifices, To
Dreams and To that Indomitable Spirit of Winning.
