Secret Superstar review: Tugging at the emotional heartstrings

Secret Superstar strikes a harmonious chord with its rich sub-texts and excellent performances

To fault Secret Superstar, one could say it is a wee too manipulative. It takes on a number of societal prejudices, plays it up to extract your sympathy, and then in a classic case of emotional catharsis, very politically right and carefully structured, it allows you to weep copiously in joy. 
But what's wrong with that? Here is a mainstream film attempting to trek into territories that have been taboo or unpalatable, and yet makes it appealing to the masses. To draw any similarity to the underlying text of Secret Superstar, you could compare it to Lipstick Under My Burkha, a film searingly direct with none of the play-to-the-gallery frills.
Lipstick... and Secret Superstar both talk of women empowerment in less expected backdrops that Bollywood had conveniently chosen to gloss over. While the former is abrasive and provocative, the latter takes a more palatable route, leaving you with nothing really to mull over.
Naturally, Secret Superstar takes cinematic liberties in its tale of Incia (Zaira Wasim), a prodigious talent in small-town India. She wants to be a singing superstar but there are odds to fight, the most terrifying being the domestic violence she witnesses.
This sub-text is the most intense (of a highly patriarchal order), where the husband (Raj Arjun) indulges in physical and mental harassment of a homely mother, Najma (Meher Vij) - and writer-director Advait Chandan weaves it masterfully into the narrative of Incia.
It is also the bonding of the mother and daughter, not to forget, a cute, ever-so-real younger son Guddu (Kabir Sajjid) that makes Secret Superstar endearing. This is familial love at its best without any of the pretensions and overstatements.
When Incia gets her first exposure to YouTube and its possibilities, the 'Secret Superstar' is born. Make way then for Aamir Khan as Shakti Kumar, in all the exaggerated swagger of a Bollywood music composer. When Incia and his lives cross, the little girl goes on a life-changing trip.
The surprise elements are those that are not over-stated: The turmoil of Shakti Kumar, the bonding between Incia and his friend Chintan (Tirth Sharma), the sly references to the absurdity of film awards, and above all, the coming of age of Najma.
Masterly enough, while condemning domestic abuse and the paternal crushing of dreams, it does not summarily pan men - as is the fashion today. Incia's father is clueless that he might have been doing it all wrong. If a section of the audience takes his predicament as offending, must say, that could have been the intention: To make you question whether being abusive - verbally or physically  - is the right response to any difficult situation.
Secret Superstar has terrific music by Amit Trivedi, fantastic cinematography by Anil Mehta (mood-based and real) and honest performances: It is hard to say who outsmarts the other: Is it Thirth, is it Kabir - the little Guddu, is it Raj Arjun with his silent menace or is it Meher and Zaira? All are top-notch.
Aamir Khan, giving way to all these talents to shine, goes on deliberate exaggeration mode and the masterly actor in him wins because even in doing so, he exposes the character's flaw and inner anguish.
Secret Superstar might be manipulative intentionally but it is a film you cannot ignore.
Secret Superstar
Written and directed by Advait Chandan
Starring: Zaira Wasim, Meher Vij and Aamir Khan
Now playing at theatres in the UAE
Rating: 4/5

• UAE