Children are calling shots at Bollywood Box office 2007

In 2007, the Hindi entertainment industry embraced the new-age marketing mantra of selling to and through children the most glaring example of which is Taare Zameen Par.

Never before had the industry taken films about children as seriously as it did this year. After decades of avoiding children's cinema, the dream merchants of Hindi filmdom did a complete turnaround and audiences were treated to nearly a dozen films about children and even one about a baby.

The most remarkable difference was that none of these films were funded by government bodies entrusted with the task of promoting children's cinema. They, instead, had big industry names associated with them.

The biggest was Aamir Khan 's directorial debut ‘Taare Zameen Par’ that not only drew standing ovation from critics, but also touched moviegoers and made the cash register ring.

Even Bobby Deol found himself charmed into doing a film about children and importance of education titled Nanhe Jaisalmer . Then there was Vishal Bharadwaj 's Blue Umbrella and Rahul Bose starrer ‘Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii’ and a box-office dud ‘Apna Asmaan’.