My Name is Khan is a breakthrough creation by Karan Johar. It has taken Karan’s career as a director to a new high. Rizwan Khan, the protagonist is a bravura and brilliant performance by Shahrukh Khan. Many would take up the movie as a love story, portrayed also in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. A far cry from previous creations by Karan Johar, My Name Is Khan has gone beyond the boundary of a mere love story to touch the heights of humanity over religion and community, caste and creed.
My Name is Khan is a micro-to-macro journey of Rizwan Khan through a series of turmoil – physical, mental, personal, natural, communal and international. He was born with Asperger syndrome. In childhood, he learns from his mother that there is no difference between the Hindu and the Musalman. Only two types of people, good and bad exist in the world. After the death of his mother, he leaves for Sans Francisco with his brother. He joins the beauty product business of his brother as a salesman. While selling products to beauty parlors and shops, Rizwan meets Mandira, played by Kajol. Mandira is a Hindu. Deserted by her husband, she works in a beauty parlor and lives with her only son. Rizwan falls in love with her. After no no for some days, Mandira accepts his marriage proposal.
The story takes a turn, when the happy nest of Rizwan and Mandira breaks down at blows from the terrorist attack on World Trade Center to the Muslim Community in US. Mandira’s son falls prey to the angst of some American teenagers for Musalmans and dies. Mandira considers Rizwan responsible for the death of her son because her surname was changed after marriage with him. The bereaved Mandira snaps her ties with him and asks him to come back when he will prove that he is “Khan”, not a terrorist. He embarks upon a journey to Washington DC to meet President and tell him that he is not a terrorist. Despite several obstacles on the way, he fulfills his promise to Mandira. Rizwan’s activities and experiences during the journey are a lesson for audience from different walks of life.
My Name is Khan holds up several issues of both inhumanity and humanity like Americans’ ill-treatment of innocent Musalmans, a Musalman misguiding other Musalmans, a Musalman helping the Black Americans in hard times, misinterpretation of the Koran by some Musalmans and imprisonment of innocent Musalmans in suspicion of terrorism. Rizwan Khan is a philanthropist who wins the battle ultimately. His character keeps moving the plot from cover to cover. The movie is boring nowhere.
My Name is Khan is a movie of substance. When it comes to performance, the credit goes to Shahrukh Khan and Kajol and Zarina Wahab. Cinematography, direction, storytelling and music add to the appeal of the movie for mass audience. Having ingredients to make you laugh, cry, think and feel, My Name is Khan packs a punch for everyone. What to tell more!
My Name is Khan is a micro-to-macro journey of Rizwan Khan through a series of turmoil – physical, mental, personal, natural, communal and international. He was born with Asperger syndrome. In childhood, he learns from his mother that there is no difference between the Hindu and the Musalman. Only two types of people, good and bad exist in the world. After the death of his mother, he leaves for Sans Francisco with his brother. He joins the beauty product business of his brother as a salesman. While selling products to beauty parlors and shops, Rizwan meets Mandira, played by Kajol. Mandira is a Hindu. Deserted by her husband, she works in a beauty parlor and lives with her only son. Rizwan falls in love with her. After no no for some days, Mandira accepts his marriage proposal.
The story takes a turn, when the happy nest of Rizwan and Mandira breaks down at blows from the terrorist attack on World Trade Center to the Muslim Community in US. Mandira’s son falls prey to the angst of some American teenagers for Musalmans and dies. Mandira considers Rizwan responsible for the death of her son because her surname was changed after marriage with him. The bereaved Mandira snaps her ties with him and asks him to come back when he will prove that he is “Khan”, not a terrorist. He embarks upon a journey to Washington DC to meet President and tell him that he is not a terrorist. Despite several obstacles on the way, he fulfills his promise to Mandira. Rizwan’s activities and experiences during the journey are a lesson for audience from different walks of life.
My Name is Khan holds up several issues of both inhumanity and humanity like Americans’ ill-treatment of innocent Musalmans, a Musalman misguiding other Musalmans, a Musalman helping the Black Americans in hard times, misinterpretation of the Koran by some Musalmans and imprisonment of innocent Musalmans in suspicion of terrorism. Rizwan Khan is a philanthropist who wins the battle ultimately. His character keeps moving the plot from cover to cover. The movie is boring nowhere.
My Name is Khan is a movie of substance. When it comes to performance, the credit goes to Shahrukh Khan and Kajol and Zarina Wahab. Cinematography, direction, storytelling and music add to the appeal of the movie for mass audience. Having ingredients to make you laugh, cry, think and feel, My Name is Khan packs a punch for everyone. What to tell more!
