No kid stuff

Bollywood has churned out many films for and about children in the four years since Taare Zameen Par changed the rules of the game, but most of these efforts have failed to measure up, writes Saibal Chatterjee

Aamir Khan’s directorial debut Taare Zameen Par was a runaway hit. In the four years since the release of that film, the Mumbai movie industry has come up with a larger complement of films about and for children than it did in the entire decade that preceded its making.

Little luminaries
Taare Zameen Par bestowed instant stardom on Darsheel Safary. He was only 11 years old. A small-time producer approached him with a new role only to be told that the child actor would charge Rs 1.25 crore. The film had to be shelved because its entire production budget was no more than Rs 1.5 crore and Darsheel had become too big for it.

The soul of music
The harmonium is part of many households. It is required in temples and gurdwaras. No music director can compose tunes without this instrument, says Shekher Phadnis
THE harmonium has long been a favourite with musicians, including the wandering minstrels who sling it on their backs. For learning the fundamentals of music, the harmonium is absolutely essential and, in fact, it is part of many households in India. It is required in temples and gurdwaras as an accompaniment for singing bhajans and kirtans.