Secret Superstar

  • 04 Nov - 10 Nov, 2017
  • Omair Alavi
  • Reviews


Aamir Khan makes a fine comeback with Secret Superstar, his first release in Pakistan since PK three years ago. However, he isn’t playing the hero or the main villain in this movie; this Bollywood superstar plays a supporting role since the film has another star in the making – the ‘secret superstar’. The film breaks taboos and shows to the world that if you set your mind to it, anything is possible no matter how bad things may look at first.

The film revolves around the life of Insia (Zaira Wasim) who is a talented singer but has limitations in the form of school and a strict father. Her mother (Meher Vij) keeps her hopes alive by fulfilling all her wishes without telling her husband; it is due to her mother’s freedom that Insia managed to make a couple of music videos that went viral and made her a secret superstar. Secret because she wore a veil while singing and no one knew it was her – until Shakti Kumar (Aamir Khan) heard her and decided to give her a break. How Insia manages to make it big despite opposition and how she transforms Shakti Kumar from a womaniser to a humaniser is what makes this film a must watch in cinema.

Secret Superstar is one of the best musicals to have come out from Bollywood in the last few years; the film doesn’t cater to the fans of Yo Yo Honey Singh but to genuine film music lovers who know a good song when they listen to it. Meghna Mishra leaves a lasting impression as the voice of Zaira Wasim and they both complement each other perfectly. Amit Trivedi must be commended for coming up with a winning soundtrack that forms the backbone of the film.

Finally, let’s talk about the performances led by Zaira Wasim who plays the title role. The Dangal girl proves that her previous flick wasn’t a fluke and that she is immensely talented, otherwise it isn’t easy to perform in front of Bollywood’s best. Meher Vij as the mother of Zaira excels for the second time as a Bollywood mother; the last time she did that was in Bajrangi Bhaijan. In that flick, she looked Munni’s mother while here she resembles with Zaira’s character making her a modern Bollywood mother who can change the gear without any difficulty. Raj Arjun plays the father who is always aggressive for no reason and remains the most hated person during the film’s entire run of two hours and 30 minutes due to his brilliant portrayal.

Whereas, Aamir Khan plays the role of Shakti Kumar, a notorious music director whom no one respects or loves. He doesn’t get awards because of his bad reputation, yet that’s the cover he has kept for the media. He displays his human side by contacting Insia and promising to help her and fulfill his promise like a true gentleman. The beard, the body-hugging T-shirts, the earring and that smile all tend to make you hate the character. Aamir is also the producer of the film who gave the director Advait Chandan all the support he needed, even if it meant limiting his role to mostly post-interval. •

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