I watched “My name is Khan” last night. Without spoilers, here are my impressions.
This is a Karan Johar movie and yet it seems to be Karan Johar all grown up. No group dances, Manish Malhotra costumes and very little glamor. I’ll say this : though the movie is too long, it still manages to be watchable and interesting through out. The movie’s protagonist is superbly played by Sharukh Khan . He plays a man with an autistic disorder, on a mission to convince the President of USA that his name is Khan and he is not a terrorist. For once, SRK does not overact but turns in a very muted performance. This is the first time I have seen SRK change his body language to fit into a role – no manic jumping or dancing. MNIK also marks the reunion of the Kaajol and SRK on screen pair. Kaajol is as always alternately bubbly and serious. She is a fine actor and I hope she keeps coming back on to the big screen. Well played cameos by Tanay Chheda ( as a young Khan), Jimmy Shergil ( so cute!) and Zarina Wahab round up the Indian cast , ably supported by American actors.
My problem with the movie is that it never really decided what it wants to be- a message on religious tolerance, a study of the disabled ( or “differently abled” to be PC!) , a blaxplotation movie or a road movie. It ends up being a little bit of each of these. Karan Johar seems to have scanned the headlines for US news since 2000 and put in a little bit of everything hence the “ripped from the headlines” title of this review. However, he does not do a bad job and the movie actually makes you think about what the Muslim community in the USA has faced since 9/11- which means is does achieve its purpose. This movie that is almost wholly set in America. Yet, one can make out that Johar’s target audience is Indians in India because the America he shows seems dated in its attitudes. Yes, I know that there was real anti -Muslim sentiment after 9/11. But egregious discrimination in the San Francisco Bay Area? I think not! The weakest part of the movie is KJ’s depiction of a Katrina – like disaster set in rural Georgia. His African – American characters are so stereotyped that they make for some cringe inducing moments. But in true KJ style, the beauty of San Francisco is exploited to the fullest. What KJ did for New York in “Kal ho na ho” he does to San Francisco in MNIK – makes an already beautiful city look even more beautiful. Also only in a KJ movie will desis all over the US including FBI employees, television personalities and students - unite to help the protagonist ( in Real life: I can’t get desis in my neighborhood to do anything for me !)
Overall , I ‘d rate this one a strong B. On a personal note, I made up my mind to see this movie the moment the Shiv Sena in Mumbai called for its ban.( Long story short: The Sena has taken on SRK because he made the innocuous and legitimate statement that the IPL should include Pakistani players. Of course the Sena being the rabid , foaming in the mouth Hindutva espousing types they are questioned SRK’s patriotism with lots of jingoistic and hateful speeches) I will support *anything* that the Sena deems objectionable and urge you to do the same. In one of those delicious twists of fate ( also called a “kick in the nuts by fate”) , the ban failed miserably- MNIK is playing to full houses all over Maharashtra and the Government has finally taken some action and arrested a bunch of Sena-ites who I hope rot in jail for a long, long time! I think its delicious and well deserved that a movie that espouses tolerance towards Muslims has succeeded against the Sena’s vile hate spewing machinery.
Go and watch MNIK if you like the idea of watching something thought provoking and entertaining at the same time.
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