OPINION: Another Adaptation, Another Gamble: Will 'Sitaare Zameen Par' Be Aamir Khan's Winning Shot?

After a prolonged hiatus from the silver screen, Aamir Khan is back, this time donning the hat of a basketball coach in Sitaare Zameen Par. The trailer for the film dropped recently, revealing a heartfelt and inspirational drama centred around specially-abled children and the tagline "Sabka Apna Apna Normal." While the message of inclusivity is laudable and the emotional undertone promising, the buzz surrounding the film has taken a sharp turn. Instead of applause, much of the conversation has veered toward allegations of the film being a scene-to-scene adaptation of the Spanish hit Campeones, which was also remade in Hollywood as Champions.

This isn't new territory for Aamir Khan. In fact, Sitaare Zameen Par follows closely on the heels of Laal Singh Chaddha, his ambitious Bollywood remake of the Hollywood classic Forrest Gump. That film, despite its heavy marketing and emotional appeal, failed to strike a chord with Indian audiences and tanked at the box office. Critics pointed out that the emotional core of Forrest Gump didn't quite translate across cultures, and the adaptation felt misplaced, even though Khan had poured his heart into the performance.

Now with Sitaare Zameen Par, history seems to be repeating itself. Social media is already flooded with Reddit threads and fan reactions calling out the uncanny similarities with Campeones. "After the Forrest Gump fiasco, he should have stayed away from remakes or adaptations … yeh bhi pitegi lagta hai," wrote one user. Another added, "Are these guys so brain-drained that they can't create original content with all their resources?" The sentiment is not isolated, as there is a growing fatigue among viewers toward Bollywood's increasing reliance on remakes and adaptations, especially when OTT platforms are delivering fresh, gripping narratives on limited budgets.

Yet, despite the backlash, Sitaare Zameen Par may not be entirely without hope. The trailer paints a warm, emotional journey. Aamir's portrayal of the coach seems heartfelt, and the presence of Genelia Deshmukh as his romantic interest adds a tender layer to the story. What may tilt the film in its favour is its focus on specially-abled children, a narrative that, if handled with sensitivity and depth, could resonate with a wide audience.

In addition to the story, the film features a fresh cast of debutants Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Samvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhansali, and others, who bring authenticity to the team dynamic portrayed in the trailer. Introducing fresh faces could prove to be a refreshing move.

Another interesting strategy being employed is the film's unique distribution model. Moving away from traditional OTT platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime, Aamir reportedly plans to release the movie on YouTube on a Pay-Per-View (PPV) basis after an eight-week theatrical run. This approach, while unconventional for Indian cinema, allows audiences to pay only for what they want to watch rather than subscribe to an entire service. It's a bold experiment that could set a precedent if successful, though it comes with risks, especially if the theatrical run underperforms.

The question remains: is Aamir Khan's choice of adaptations and experiments a creative evolution or a misjudged path during a career slump? Post-Thugs of Hindostan, Laal Singh Chaddha, and now Sitaare Zameen Par, Aamir has yet to deliver a bona fide hit. For an actor known as "Mr. Perfectionist", the pressure to rebound is palpable. If Sitaare Zameen Par clicks emotionally with the audience, it could mark a redemptive chapter in his career. But if it's dismissed as another uninspired remake, it might reinforce the growing narrative of Bollywood losing its creative edge.

Aamir Khan's return to cinema with Sitaare Zameen Par thus hangs in delicate balance. The film has the potential to be a powerful story about empathy, inclusion, and determination. However, its credibility is already undermined by the adaptation debate, a baggage Khan now seems unable to shed.