After an eight-year break from directing, RS Prasanna is back with ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, a film that blends sports drama with heartwarming emotion. Best known for his 2017 film ‘Shubh Mangal Savdhaan’, which dealt with erectile dysfunction in a light-hearted and sensitive way, Prasanna now turns his lens toward a new challenge: a grumpy basketball coach training a team of kids with special needs.Not worried about remake talkThe trailer for ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ came out over a month ago and was loved by many for its touching story and Aamir Khan’s performance. But some viewers noticed it looked very similar to the Spanish film ‘Campeones’ and its Hollywood remake ‘Champions’Despite these talks, RS Prasanna is not bothered. In an interview with Hindustan Times, he said, “I just feel the film will have the answers. It is best for the director to talk through the film. As far as I am concerned, there is so much love for the film. I am consumed by that.” When asked further about whether the remake buzz bothers him, his answer remains simple and resolute, “I am just consumed by the love for the film.”Aamir Khan on the remake debateAamir Khan, too, addressed the criticism regarding ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ being possibly another remake. While speaking on Raj Shamani’s podcast earlier this month, the actor reflected on how his previous film, ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, also faced flak for being a remake of the Hollywood classic ‘Forrest Gump’.“After Laal Singh, a lot of people told me, ‘you are making a remake again’. Laal Singh was trolled heavily for being a remake. But I am a different kind of person. I don’t understand practical things. I don’t have any problem with a remake, and I don’t feel my creativity is diminishing at all. For me, it is new work. Someone else made this story, and I am giving it my perspective,” Aamir said.Training the ‘Sitaare’Aamir isn’t the only one doing something different with this film. Prasanna’s directorial comeback is unique not just for its subject, but also for its cast. The film features ten young actors with intellectual disabilities, all of whom were selected for their raw passion for performance.“You don’t climb Mount Everest because it’s easy. You do it for the glory. You love the adrenaline rush. In the 10 sitaare we have cast, all we were looking for was that keeda (itch) to act. Everything else can be taught,” Prasanna shared. To help them bring their best to the screen, the production team created a mini acting school complete with acting and clowning workshops, much like what any newcomer in the industry might go through. While not a direct continuation, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ is being described as a spiritual sequel to Aamir’s beloved 2007 film ‘Taare Zameen Par’, which told the story of a child with dyslexia and the teacher who changed his life. The earlier film touched millions with its sensitive handling of learning disabilities, and ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ aims to channel a similar spirit, though through a new lens, sport.
