Taare Zameen Par, later reissued as Like Stars on Earth for Disney's international edition DVD, is a 2007 Indian drama film directed by Aamir Khan. Creative Director and writer Amole Gupte initially developed the idea with his wife Deepa Bhatia, who served as the film's editor. Visual effects were created by Tata Elxsi's Visual Computing Labs, and the title animation—the first use of claymation in a Bollywood film—was created by Dhimant Vyas. Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy composed the film's score, and Prasoon Joshi wrote the lyrics for many of the songs. Principal photography took place in Mumbai and in Panchgani's New Era High School, and some of the school's students make appearances.
Walt Disney Company Home Entertainment, which acquired 33 percent of UTV Software Communications, bought the DVD rights for distribution in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia for 7 crore (US$1.68 million). This marked "the first time an international studio has bought the video rights of an Indian film." Disney released the film in Region 2 on 26 October 2009, in Region 1 on 12 January 2010, and in Region 4 on 29 March 2010. A three-disc set, the Disney version features the original Hindi audio soundtrack with English subtitles or another dubbed in English, as well as bonus material such as audio commentary, deleted scenes, and the musical soundtrack.
National Film Awards (for year 2007)
- Won: Best Film on Family Welfare
- Won: Best Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi
- Won: Best Male Playback Singer: Shankar Mahadevan: Maa
2008 Filmfare Awards
- Won:Best Movie- Aamir Khan (producer)
- Won:Best Director - Aamir Khan
- Won:Best Story - Amole Gupte
- Won: Critics Award Best Performance - Darsheel Safary
- Won: Best Lyricist - Prasoon Joshi
2008 Zee Cine Awards
- Won:Zee Cine Award for Best Director - Aamir Khan
- Won:Zee Cine Award for Most Promising Director - Aamir Khan
- Won:Zee Cine Award for Best Lyricist - Prasoon Joshi, Maa
- Won:Zee Cine Award - Critics' Choice Best Actor - Darsheel Safary
- Won:Most Promising Debut (Child Artiste) - Darsheel Safary
- Won:Zee Cine Award for Best Story - Amole Gupte
2009 Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Award
- Won: Apsara Award for Best Film - Aamir Khan (Producer)
- Won:Apsara Award for Best Director - Aamir Khan
- Won: Best Screenplay - Amole Gupte
- Won: Best Lyrics - Prasoon Joshi - Maa
- Won: Apsara Award for Best Male Playback Singer- Shankar Mahadevan - Maa
- Won: Best Story - Amole Gupte
- Won: Best Special Effects - Vaibhav Kumaresh, Dhimant Vyas
2008 Star Screen Awards (Screen Weekly Awards)
- Won:Best Director - Aamir Khan (shared with Shimit Amin for Chak De India)
- Won:Best Supporting Actor - Aamir Khan
- Won:Best Child Artist - Darsheel Safary
- Won:Best Story - Amole Gupte
- Won:Best Dialogue - Amole Gupte
- Won:Best Lyricist - Prasoon Joshi
"Three days before Chandni Chowk hit theaters in the U.S. and India, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its shortlist of nine films edging closer to a foreign-language nomination. India's submission, the powerful and moving Taare Zameen Par by Aamir Khan, didn't make the cut. Sadly, that film never will be seen by mainstream American audiences; yet Chandni Chowk is enjoying a hefty publicity push. If only Taare Zameen Par could have gotten its hands on that magic potato."
— American film critic Lisa Tsering in 2009, The Hollywood Reporter.2008 V. Shantaram Awards
- Won:Best Film (Gold)
- Won:Best Director (Silver) - Aamir Khan
- Won:Best Actor in a lead role - Darsheel Safary
- Won:Best Writer - Amole Gupte
2009 List of submissions to the 81st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- Taare Zameen Par was initially acclaimed as India's official entry for the 2009 Academy Awards Best Foreign Film, but after it failed to make the short list a debate began in the Indian media as to why Indian films never win Oscars.
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