Warning: May contain a few spoilers.
I am perplexed whether to talk about the movie – My name is Khan or the issue – My name is Khan. I’ve been staring at this blank page for almost 15 minutes now and have written and deleted quite a few introductions to my review coz. I’m still not sure whether to talk about the movie or the issue because the movie is strictly ‘Ok – not bad’ to say the least but the best part about it is it treads into a sensitive and very relevant issue.
It may not have happened on 9/11 as the movie says, but it did happen somewhere near the turn of the century – this religious polarization of the world. Without getting into the reasons for this happening, one of the results has been that it has become difficult to be a Muslim today. Celebrating holi, lighting lamps or bursting crackers on Diwali, lining up in temples on Shiv-ratri, wearing a saree or salwar kameez, feasting on a turkey etc. can just be seen as enjoyable traditions or customs but keeping a big beard, praying five times a day, wearing a hijab and celebrating Eid by sacrificing a lamb have become subtle symbols of siding with extremism.
And if you have Karan Johar – the Lady Gaga of Bollywood, dealing with this extremely sensitive issue, it sure looks like a very bad idea. Surprisingly though, Karan seems to have finally grown up. Not that I did not enjoy Kuch Kuch Hota Hai but never thought that he could refrain his cheese when it came to serious subjects.
On second base, you again had a potential disaster. Shahrukh Khan, the man who, with every passing day, gets closer to becoming Dev Anand the Second; both of them have two things in common – heart throb status in their 40s and a head that is always at 10 to 6 or 10 past 6. Give him a condition – Asperger’s syndrome and in all probability, his neck could have disconnected from his body and his head could’ve gone out for a walk, all on its own. Again, surprise surprise, it didn’t happen. Actually his condition meant that he could not express emotions and I think that was a neat trick by his director to restrict him.
And then with all the controversy it generated and the initial 5 star reviews which gave the impression that Shahrukh has pulled an Aamir, it was tough to sit and watch the movie without expectations.
All said and done, the movie is … for want of a better word… ‘Not bad’ and it does try to do justice to the issue it represents. After a brief ordinary introduction, Shahrukh as Rizwan in the first half is in brilliant form when, he comes to America and starts selling cosmetic products. There are quite a few similarities with Forrest Gump though, but I didn’t mind it. After all, don’t all autistic conditions look equally cute on screen. His expressions of giggling goofily when being confronted with love are indeed special. Kajol does manage to still look pretty after all these years of being out of action.
The second half however, I thought, lacked something, I can’t put a finger on it precisely though. Yes, there are moments where it is difficult to hold back the tears and the lump in the throat just doesn’t go away but still, I feel the portrayal of the issue could have been a lot better. Kajol, unfortunately seems to have lost the edge. Her rage at her son’s death when she asks Rizwan to leave, does seem a tad unreal. It is Shahrukh who excels with his subdued performance as Rizwan. His speech at the church remembering his son, devoid of any expressions because of his condition, does extract tears and is very hard to watch.
The problem however, with the movie was that you do feel empathy towards the person Rizwan but there is no empathy generated towards the muslim Rizwan. I mean, the tears and the hard to watch moments have nothing to do with the issue the movie claims to portray. The tears flow when he talks of his son but not when he is arrested and tortured in prison. Actually, his naivety in not comprehending the torture does feel overdone coz. though, he was autistic, he wasn’t dumb. I guess, this is where the movie could have been a lot better.
Shankar Ehsan Loy have once again given refreshing music. Though Sajda is the popular track in this album, I loved the rendition of Noor E Khuda by Shankar and Adnan Sami. ‘Tere Naina’ is yet another nice and vibrant track. The music does gel with the movie nicely.
So I guess, the movie isn’t really SRK’s best performance till date as the 5 star reviews suggest (coz. we still have Swades and Chak De), but it is a fair effort and a reasonably good watch. Just don’t expect the movie to provide as much entertainment as the controversy it generated and you’ll be fine.
First!!!!
me: 🙂 Are we still playing this game! 😆
Nice review again .. Shud watch out for that Church scene 🙂
I liked the music too 🙂
me: Glad you liked it. I mean the review 😛
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I liked the movie….maybe b’coz I watched it with no great expections.
have to agree with u here….
*Her rage at her son’s death when she asks Rizwan to leave, does seem a tad unreal.
*His expressions of giggling goofily when being confronted with love are indeed special.
*you do feel empathy towards the person Rizwan but there is no empathy generated towards the muslim Rizwan.
And also liked the “We cant do this without touching u knw”….with tht 1 sentence all doubts were laid to rest 😀
Yeah KJ is finally growing up 🙂
me: so thats the only thing that stayed with you!!! 😆
I wrote a whole paragraph & that was the only sentence which stayed with YOU ;-/
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I haven’t watched the movie, but your review makes me want to. I guess the way the expectations were built up were probably unrealistic, but it still a compliment for Karan Johar that he seems to have done a good job at handling the issue – unlike what we expect of him 🙂
me: Yeah, not the best way it could’ve been done but still, not bad.
“Shahrukh Khan, the man who, with every passing day, gets closer to becoming Dev Anand the Second; both of them have two things in common – heart throb status in their 40s and a head that is always at 10 to 6 or 10 past 6. Give him a condition – Asperger’s syndrome and in all probability, his neck could have disconnected from his body and his head could’ve gone out for a walk, all on its own.” laughed my heart out reading those lines!
As always loved your take of the movie 🙂 .
me: 😀
Why is that this Anon person looks so familiar to me?? I can smell dilli ki galiyan all the way from here through her comment
me: You mean dilli ki galiyan or gaaliyan 😆
oops!! the prev comment was from me..forgot to feed in the details 😀
It’s been awhile, eh?
Btw, liked your review. I used to be crazy over SRK a few years ago… might just give this movie a go once it’s on cable.
me: Everyone was crazy over SRK a few years ago 😛
brilliant review.. i have pretty much the same things to say (not in such well framed words may be)
me: well framed words? Now you know, how I cream you in scrabble 😛
lol@ karan = lady gaga 😀
I liked SRK, 2nd half the movie actually slipped, for me it was due to some unbelievable scenes.. his conversation with the president, kajol’s overflowing emotions, and the long drama towards the end which could have been chopped easily.
all in all- okay movie.. noone would have bothered about the movie had it not been for the pre release furor and ofcourse, SRK.
Noor e Kuda is my fave track from the movie as well.
me: Yeah, thats what I thought too abt the second half.
Also, I am being very biased and judgemental here but I think Karan Johar was better off not dealing with serious subjects..we have a lot of other people who can do a better job at serious movies, Lady Gaga should stick to colourful clothes, romance, phamily lurve, song and dance.. he is good at it.
me: Everyone wants to be someone else, no?
Karan Johar – the lady gaga of bollywood??? 😯 😯 and after sometime 😆 I can’t just get laughing over this comparison!!!
Yet to watch this movie…maybe once am done with my shifting and fighting, will sit by a pool side dangling my tired feet in a hot tub and watch this one and cry away to glory!!
so you say SRK was wokay wokay and not acted like SRK himself? well that’s one good enough reason to go ahead and watch this.
me: fighting? the shoes issue not yet settled?
I haven’t managed to see the movie and no review has been tempting enough, but I still hope to catch it.
me: Not even tempted to watch for democracy 😛 he he
LOL Rakesh, I think the movie has made a history of a kind without any support from me 🙂 I am really glad that the common citizen in Maharashtra got a chance to express how they feel about these bullying cousins. I have lived there it’s my favorite state in India – I feel strongly about it.
me: 🙂
LOL@ Lady Gaga of Bollywood!! 😛 😛
Nice review.. I’m not going to watch this movie… will wait for it to be aired on TV, which will happen in a year or so!
me: Yeah, good idea!
Check out this preview too…
MY Name is Khan, Shahrukh Khan”
me: No link?
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Thanks for the review and i think i enjoyed the review more than i would enjoy the movie. Its difficult for me to bear shahrukh khan in the first place and he really doesnt have to try very hard to portray he is dumb, oops sorry, autistic!! 😀
me: he he… Yeah, I know what you’re saying.
brilliant as always.
me: 🙂
Hey Hey … here we go …. I kinda liked the movie …As expected Karan johar had to put some scenes which were rediculous like the one in which the only person who could have saved a village in Georgia was Rizwan khan.. C’mon that doesnt happen in U.S … and the other thing was at the start of movie where Mr Rizwan khan misd the flight of LA to D.c and decides to take a bus … Wat the hell , west to east coast in a bus …. Mr Johar’s Damn geography …… but still movie was good … and yeah as u said more than movie the issue is a relevant issue ….. I didnt realise it until recently when i had to renew my passport … These damn officers in NY indian consulate took 8 months to renew my passport.. I had to fight my case to get my passport …I actually had to go and tell them that they cant discriminate against me because of my religion…. I should have said ” My name is Khan and i am not a terrorist ” …Damn Karan johar he released the movie after i got my password otherwise i would have used his dialogue and behaved like a celebrity ..oopps wait ..Indeed i am a celebrity …. Mrs Salman khan
me: Mrs. Salman Khan! Which number? Knowing Salman’s penchant for changing his missus every year or so 😆 And I can imagine how frustrating it would be for mundane tasks, especially when your Hindu friend gets his passport in 3 days.
Btw, I think they doubted you because you already look like a bomb 😛
lol , Atom bomb it is …. 🙂 ….U gotta great sense of Humour Mister..
Everything in the movie was weak. Everything touched upon was left mid way. It could have been soulful one if SRK and Kajol had not spoilt it.
P.S. Wonder how u found the music refreshing. It’s SEL’s weakest.
me: Your intro in my blogroll is so apt 🙂 The interesting thing about you is it is never half way. You either love a movie or hate it. ‘OK’ just doesn’t do for you, no? Wish I could be so conclusive about a lot of things.
and finally I come across a user review which I could relate to. As you said, the first half was engaging, not so great but the second half was unbearable !! especially towards the end, when he becomes superman (sans the underwear :D) !!!
I had been following a few blogs like yours, but never commented. Let me blogroll you right away !!! 😀 😀
me: sans the underwear! lol… Actually, to think of it, he could’ve even done that under the guise of his condition, no? 😆
Have you heard MNIK jokes??
Let me get my kids to remind me of the first line, and get back with a few MNIK rhymes.
He wears a watch on his wrist.
He wears a watch on his wrist.
His name is Khan
And he is not a terrorist.
And another one goes,
Birds chirped, cats meowed, snakes hissed.
His name is Khan and he is not a terrorist.
And another equally meaningless one,
I am going shopping, I forgot my shopping list
My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist.
me: You are just loving it, no? 😆
I bought a body mist ,
My name is Khan and m not a terrorist …
Could stop myself 🙂
One more ..
How strong is my fist ..
My name is Khan and m not a terrorist …
Ha ha Lubna good ones 🙂
We love MNIK jokes,
We’ll love jokes of Swami,
the self proclaimed Gawd 🙂
His name is Swami,
and he is not a fraud 😉
me: he he…
I hope to catch MNIK one day 😉 so skipped the spoilers.
I recently watched Kurbaan and I was shocked. Shocked at the way they represented Muslims negatively. I wonder why and how KJo agreed to produce the film? 😐
me: Kurbaan was such a piece of crap.
Bang on; One of the few reviews to have hit the hammer on the nail (read –> my review matched most of what is written here ;-);
Similarities apart, its nice to read a balanced review about an average film that funnily has drawn extreme reactions from all quarters…
me: Just read your review and was spooked. The similarities are just eery 🙂
Geez! you keep making me want to watch KJo/SRK movies coz of your fab reviews! And these are 2 people i usually avoid like the plague. Great writing there, my phhhhreeennnd!
me: Review pe mat jao, apni akal lagao 🙂 ma fraand
Love your header pic.! incredible shot.
me: Here’s the full version http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4805632&l=95cf820025&id=527968833
hellloooooo………its been more than a month
wheres the new post??????
New post? :O Kahaan hai?
*searches high and low* Mebbe you have a secret page eh? 😛
Testing.. testing..
The header looks fabulous!
me: testing? :rolling eyes: