AbilityFEST2025 draws to an emotional close with Sitaare Zameen Par

The air buzzed with anticipation, eyes on the entrance, waiting for the stars to arrive. But these are not your typical red carpet regulars – they were the young athletes from Sitare Zameen Par, the breakout hit that’s taken the country by storm. Backed by Aamir Khan Productions, the film about neurodivergent children discovering their strength through sport (basketball here) has garnered a lot of love and affection from the audience and critics alike. The film is known to have opened up vital conversations about inclusion and ability, where the young cast now shines as a beacon of resilience and a new kind of heroism.

Screened at PVR-INOX Sathyam Cinemas recently, Sitare Zameen Par was the final screening for AbilityFEST2025, presented by Ability Foundation. Present at the screening were the director, RS Prasanna, writer Divy Nidhi Sharma, and co-producer Aparna Purohit. 

In conversation with the festival chairperson, Revathy, Prasanna spoke about how this film was “more than a movie,”  that it “goes beyond the constructs of a movie and goes to the heart”. The most poignant moment was when he asked the parents of the stars to stand up, addressing them as the “real stars.” He spoke about how, because of them, the cast were already primed with talent, and the filmmakers merely “did our bit, you know, like coaches do.”

Adapted from a Spanish movie called Campeones, writer Divy Nidhi spoke of how the team tried to keep the emotional core of the original film intact, but also Indianise it for the audience. “We are often asked how it was to work with these actors, and I would like to put it on record that this is the most focussed, most disciplined bunch we have ever worked with,” he further added. 

The event also saw the announcement of the winners of the ‘60 Seconds to Fame!’ All-India one-minute film competition on disability. This year’s theme, “Through Your Lens: A Celebration of Disability Inclusion,” inspired a range of creative responses. The 17 shortlisted films were screened throughout the four-day festival from July 7 to 10. The best film was handed to The Menu by filmmaker Nikita Konari, which showed how braille menus can be introduced to make eateries more accessible.