Movie Review : Secret Superstar

Rating : Good (3.85/5)
Genre : Drama
Year : 2017
Running time : 2 hours 35 minutes
Director : Advait Chandan
Cast : Zaira Wasim, Meher Vij, Raj Arjun, Aamir Khan, Tirth Sharma
Kid rating : G

Insia (Wasim) is a high schooler with a passion for singing. Her conservative father (Arjun) barely tolerates this “frivolous” interest, while her loving mother Najma (Vij) surreptitiously supports Insia. When Insia starts posting her singing videos online, she receives many accolades and an offer of work from flamboyant music director Shakti Kumar (Khan). All her dreams come to naught however, when Insia’s father forbids her singing and decides to ship the family overseas.

Secret Superstar is not just teenage Insia’s story, it is her mother Najma’s story too, and of countless such other mothers and daughters who must keep their desires firmly tied down in the face of “traditional” mores. Underneath it all, Secret Superstar is a story of empowerment, and of breaking oppressive patriarchal shackles. It doesn’t get preachy though, but conveys its emotion with realistic character portrayals (yes, there are some flights of fancy) and by showing us the blow-by-blow, visceral damage that domestic violence does.

You might remember teenage actress Zaira Wasim from Dangal, where she played young Geeta Phogat. Here, she is lovely and luminous as the effervescent Insia, who questions the status quo, and persuades her mother to rebel. Meher Vij, the actress who plays Najma gives a nuanced portrayal of an abused wife, happy and laughing when her husband is away, and mute and subdued when he is around. I really felt for her character, because she is in a bad situation but still tries her level best to shield her kids from it. The really sad thing about that was the fact that she didn’t see, nay imagine, a scenario where things could be different.

Raj Arjun is Farookh, the man of the house, and he veritably exudes rage even as he says little; impressive acting prowess. His sharp, startlingly violent gestures made real the abusive, tension-filled home situation. Aamir is Shakti Kumar, and he is a real trip in that role – fur-clad, blonde-haired, bombastic and full of swagger but still retaining that heart of gold :). Amir makes this film better by just being in it, even in that relatively insignificant role. and And finally there is cute little Chintan (Sharma), Insia’s good school friend, who stands by her and supports her unselfishly; were that all relationships were so free from avarice!

Even though Secret Superstar hinges around domestic violence, it is not all gloom and doom. Kudos to director Chandan for beautifully melding the harsh elements with the sensitive, moving ones. Secret Superstar is a lovely, heartwarming film, and well worth the watch. It makes the #3 spot of my Best Films of 2017 list.

Kidwise: Some disturbing scenes of domestic violence, and (implied) physical abuse. Am recommending this film for older kids though.