Like Stars on Earth (2007) Plot Summary

Ishaan is an 8-year-old boy living in Mumbai, who has trouble following school. He is assumed by all to simply hate learning and deemed a troublemaker, and is belittled for it. He has even repeated the 3rd standard due to his academic failures from the previous year. Ishaan’s imagination, creativity and talent for art and painting are often disregarded. Ishaan’s father, Nandkishore Awasthi, is a successful executive who expects his sons to excel. His mother, Maya is a homemaker who gave up her career and is frustrated by her inability to educate Ishaan, despite caring for Ishaan. His elder brother Yohaan is an exemplary student and tennis player in whose shadow Ishaan remains, though he is the most supportive of Ishaan.

One day, his parents are called by the principal to discuss his behavior and grades. Due to Ishaan’s continued failures, lack of improvement, and rebellious behavior, the principal suggests they look into special schools, but Nandkishore rejects this and sends him to a boarding school much to Maya and Yohaan’s dismay. Alone there, Ishaan rapidly sinks into a state of fear, anxiety and depression, which is only worsened by the teachers’ strict and abusive regime. Ishaan’s only friend is Rajan Damodaran, a physically disabled boy who is one of the top students and resides with his family there, as his father is part of the school’s board. Ishaan contemplates suicide one day, but Rajan intervenes and stops him while also informing Ishaan that Mr. Holkar, the boarding school’s strict and abusive art teacher, has left and is being replaced by someone else.

Ram Shankar Nikumbh, a young, cheerful and optimistic instructor at the Tulips School for young children with developmental disabilities, joins as the boarding school’s temporary art teacher the same day, replacing Mr. Holkar. Ram’s teaching style is markedly different from Holkar’s, and he quickly notes Ishaan’s unhappiness after Ishaan fails to draw anything during the class. Ram reviews Ishaan’s work and concludes that his academic shortcomings are indicative of dyslexia. Ram then visits Ishaan’s house in Mumbai, where he is surprised to discover Ishaan’s hidden interest in art. Ram demonstrates to Maya and Yohaan how Ishaan has extreme difficulty in understanding letters and words due to dyslexia and his trouble in sports stems from his poor motor ability (which also applies to his difficulty in tying shoelaces and judging the size, speed and distance of a ball). However, Nandkishore labels it as an intellectual disability (as well as an excuse) and dismisses it as laziness, much to Ram’s frustration.

Back at school, Ram brings up the topic of dyslexia in a class by offering a list of famous dyslexic people. Ram comforts Ishaan, telling him how he struggled as a child as well. Ram obtains the principal’s permission to become Ishaan’s tutor. With gradual care, Ram works to improve Ishaan’s reading and writing by using remedial techniques developed by dyslexia specialists. Eventually, both Ishaan’s demeanor and grades improve. One day, Nandkishore visits the school and tells Ram that he and Maya have read up on dyslexia and understand the condition. Ram mentions that what Ishaan needs more than understanding is that someone loves him. Outside, Nandkishore sees Ishaan attempting to read from a board. With teary eyes, he is unable to face his son and walks away, remorseful for the way he treated Ishaan.

At the end of the school year, Ram organises an arts and crafts contest for the staff and students, judged by artist Lalita Lajmi. Ishaan’s work makes him the winner and Ram, who paints Ishaan’s portrait, is declared the runner-up. The principal announces that Ram has been hired as the boarding school’s permanent art teacher. When Ishaan’s parents meet his teachers on the last day of school, they are left speechless by the transformation within their son. Overcome with emotion, Nandkishore thanks Ram. Before leaving, Ishaan runs toward Ram, who lifts him high up in a hug, advising him to come back next year.