The latest film in actor-producer Aamir Khan`s repertoire, Secret Superstar, is yet another film that successfully tackles topics both difficult and close to the heart.

Secret Superstar follows 15-year-old Insiya Malik (Zaira Waseem of Dangal fame) and her dream of becoming an Indian superstar. Insiya lives in a middle class home, with her doting mother Najma (Meher Vij), abusive father Farookh (Raj Arjun) and six-year-old brother Gaddu.

The relationship between Insiya and Najma is woven beautifully into the script, in no small part because of the chemistry between both actors. In spite of their constraints, Najma tries to make her daughter happy; even buying her a laptop computer so she can try to make her dreams of being a musician a reality.

The laptop turns out to be a repository of joy for Insiya, Gaddu and Najma.

Now kitted out with the right tools, a veiled Insiya records herself singing and uploads the videos to a YouTube channel called Secret Superstar.

Another rock in Insiya`s life is her classmate Chintan (Tirth Sharma), who has a persistent crush on her despite being rejected and dejected many a time and eventually helps her travel to Mumbai to record her debut song.

The enigma of a burqa-clad musician goes viral, and Insiya becomes a superstar overnight. Enter Aamir Khan as Shakti Kumar, a lascivious singer-composer struggling with afailing career and a broken family who finds a comeback in Insiya.

Kumar`s character seems to be based on Simon Cowell or Bappa Lahiri. He is a game-changer in the second half of the film, but the script gives due screen time to the relationship between Insiya and her mother. Khan, the producer, relegates Khan the actor to the background, something virtually unseen for a Bollywood hero. At the same time, when on screen, Khan shines.

Advait Chandan, the debut director, scriptwriter and Khan`s former manager, has handled the film with as much compassion as the script demands. The film offers joy, tears and thrills within its two hour 30 minute runtime, while also retaining the feeling that you could be peeking into the home of any South Asian family.

Time and time again, Chandan attempts to tackle class as a part ofthe story, and the plot deals with several societal challenges, including domestic violence against women.

It also sheds light on the family dynamic in an abusive household, and in a male-dominated society. Chandan makes it so the audience cannot look the other way, and the deep-rooted frustration in the Malik household is palpable throughout the film.

Arjun`s role as Farookh is captivating, but it is Waseem as Insiya whose performance surpasses all expectations. However, as far as characters go, the true superstar of the film may be Najma, a selfless and protective mother to the Secret Superstar.

The story is predictable enough that you can tell how it will end within the first 10 minutes, but the treatment of the story keeps you glued to your seat, and a few of the scenes will stay with you long after the credits are over.