From Aamir, By Aamir, Aamir

Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa

A slick, youthful entertainer(produced by Aamir Khan) that once again proves the adage that 'screenplay is everything' by taking a familiar story of friends-turned-lovers and packaging it as a fun and fresh film. The construction of the screenplay as conversations among friends bookending flashback segments works fantastically by making chronological jumps seem less abrupt, allowing for minor narratives that serve as good breaks and announcing the intermission in a very clever way. The main story has traces of Priyaadha Varam Vendum and follows a familiar route but sidetracks like the one about Imran proving his heritage keep the overall film from feeling too familiar. The cast too helps in making stock characters in romantic films work. Imran reminds us of his famous uncle a lot with an equally expressive face and has no trouble making the sweet and likeable character work. Genelia tones down her Santhosh Subramaniam act but does nothing to stand out. The actress playing Meghna catches our eye in a complicated role though. Inspite of being predestined to be a loser in the story, her behavior with Imran and her attitude towards her dysfunctional family make her quite interesting. The actor playing Sushant behaves exactly like a predestined loser though and is a sore point among the otherwise well-etched characters. Naseerudin Shah is hilarious in a well-imagined role. Kabhi Kabhi Aditi... and Pappu Can't Dance... are awesome and superbly choreographed too.

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Taare Zameen Par

A solidly involving, emotional film from Aamir Khan that flings away every excuse used by filmmakers who churn out so-called masala entertainers and still - or maybe because of it - works. A sensitive film about a dyslexic child and the teacher who helps him, it portrays the issue very well and with the help of some innovative graphics and Darsheel's expressive face, we know the exact problem long before it is spelled out. Inspite of revolving around a child who is afflicted, the film never seems exploitative. Darsheel is shouted at by his father and his teachers but these sequences are balanced with sequences where he is simply having fun and displays the streaks of stubborness and rebelliousness that are present in all kids his age. The result is that the emotional sequences - like the scene where he protests being sent off to boarding school - are really powerful. The focus shifts to Aamir once he makes an appearance but it feels natural. While Darsheel does have an affliction, the more important problem he faces is the lack of understanding from others and that is what Aamir dispels first. The sequences where he actually works with Darsheel are familiar but uplifting nevertheless. The climax is predictable but who cares?! The moment when we see a particular painting is just exhilarating. The movie signs off with a perfect visual shot that pretty much captures the essense of the entire story.

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Aamir

A thriller but not your garden-variety one. While we usually see the protagonist chase the bad guys, here its the hero Rajeev who is led on a chase. Since he doesn't know what he is chasing or why either, he earns our sympathy with his plight. His encounter with the customs officer at the airport after he lands gives us a loud hint about the movie's subject but throughout the film, we don't know more than Rajeev. We are as much in the dark as him and this suspense keeps us involved in the proceedings. Why the villain chooses Rajeev isn't very clear even after the objective of the chase is cleared but it paves the way for a very powerful and emotional end to the film.