Ishaan's Father Wasn't Wrong: New Perspective on 'Taare Zameen Par' Sends Internet into Frenzy

There’s been endless chatter, discussions, and everything in between about ‘Taare Zameen Par’. From kids to adults, everyone’s empathised with Ishaan Awasthi’s struggles. Imagine a mere 6-year-old grappling with life’s tough realities. Aamir Khan’s portrayal of the teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh, like a fatherly guide, earned accolades. However, Ishaan’s actual father, Nandkishore Awasthi, got flak for his stern and seemingly uncaring demeanour.

But recently, something shook up this narrative. It all started when a user, @TokaTakes, shared a clip from the 2007 movie with a thought-provoking caption. They pointed out, “Although harsh, Ishaan’s father makes sense when he sees Ishaan not living upto his bare minimum expectations and just being lost in his own artistic world. Not to mention he’s an Awasthi, and comes under unreserved category (“kaise barabari kar payega duniya ke saath”).” This sparked a frenzy among Bollywood fans.

Supporters echoed this sentiment as one highlighted, “No one noticed that his father actually loves him. He’s just being protective of him because he knows the dangers of this cruel world. In last scene u can see how guilty he felt & didn’t even make eye contact when he saw his son actually trying and realised how harsh he was to him.”

Also Read: This ‘Taare Zameen Par’ Edit Depicting Ishaan Awasthi’s Struggles is Making Internet Cry Like a Baby

“Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Indian feudal lord society can’t see beyond survival mode + Ishaan’s father didn’t know how to cope. His frustration is due to internal seethe of his child being “different” in this cruel country who doesn’t provide any support for special needs child,” expressed another.

On the other hand, dissenters argued that parental responsibility goes beyond setting expectations. One remarked, “Not agreed. You brought the kid into this world, you care for him, you help him and if all fails you guide him to adjust to alternatives in life. Think if they had a more gifted child than this.”

Another chimed in, “While the underlying emotion of the father is understood, that he knows how difficult it is to earn a living and in the society we are, traditional means of living are the cliche jobs, but to take that frustration out on a child is ridiculous. In fact, you need to do everything you can to protect your child from what you know can be a harsh society. Believing outsiders (teachers) over your own child’s potential is not great parenting.”

Also Read: ‘Best Moment’: Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par Clip Takes Fans On Nostalgic Ride

And so, the debate raged on, with this fresh perspective adding a new layer of complexity to the discussion.