My Name is Khan Movie Review
(3/5) He Khan’t be Wrong!
Bollywood has a strange way of depicting simplicity for its lead characters. If you are naïve, straightforward and relatively a stranger to the ways of this world, there got to be something wrong with you either physically or mentally. From Sridevi in Sadma to Nana Patekar in Yugpurush to Rani Mukherji in Black to Amitabh in Paa and now SRK in MNIK, most of the simpletons of Bollywood had something wrong with them.
Maybe simplicity is not the cup of tea for normal human beings like you and me according to Bollywood.
But then, it may be an easy way out for the filmmakers to set a tone for the film. This way, they can easily single out the protagonist from the rest of the pack, generate doles of sympathy for him/her and win points with the audience even before the story begins to narrate itself in full earnest.
The story of My Name is Khan is a proof of above mentioned disease in Bollywood. Rizwan Khan (SRK) suffers from a mental disorder (Asperger syndrome, we are told) which really doesn’t stop him from going to America and marrying the most beautiful NRI in the neighborhood (Kajol). Khan’s Asperger syndrome and his religion are pitted against him in every frame, with his simplicity and legendary memory being his only armor against this evil world. Enter the 9/11 incident and the atrocities on Muslims in U.S. after that incident, and you are ready to shed tears of pity for Mr. Khan even before you can spell out the name of the film.
And Karan Johar makes sure you do that in every three minutes. Taking a Bollywoodish approach to this sensitive subject, Karan makes you cry with the characters, laugh with them and enjoy the rare moments of joyous bits in their lives; all the while taking dollops of liberties with the story, screenplay and the very nature of American society to suit his version of the problems faced by the Muslim community in U.S.. God! Is he good at that!
Mr. Khan is there in every frame of the film (actually, he isn’t. but it looks so!) but funnily, he’s a mute spectator most of the time, when others are delivering earth shattering dialogues. This may not be SRK’s career best, but the man does more than full justice to the role within its limits. Its not every day that one gets to play a character where one cannot express oneself emotionally, and that too, in a Karan Johar film! And SRK has portrayed all the helplessness of the character without going overboard.
Although the title and the story are based on Khan, it’s Kajol who steals the show whenever she’s in the frame. Her joy is infectious, and her pain touching. Pick any frame from the film where Kajol is in it and you’ll know why she’s considered to be among the best in the business.
Maybe the biggest letdowns for the film are the predictability of both SRK’s character and the story. But there are too many good elements in the movie (mainly because of that emperor of emotions called Karan Johar).
Worth watching once.
-Movie Review By Raju Shanbhag in Bangalore.
exclent
Good effort to communicate that there are two types of people in the world; the Good and the Bad. Religions don’t really matter.
The review is rather cynical, sarcastic, non-complimentary to the artistes wholly, nor informative to the readers; must have been work of a sad emo kid.
SRK ACTING IS OSSOM …………… BUT VERY WRONG MESSAGE …. HOW SHOULD WE ACCEPT THE FILM? WE HAVE MADE SRK SUPER STAR WITHOUT SEEING HIS CASTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HURTED BY SRK FILM . “THE FIRST WAS CHECK DE INDIA ”
IT WAS MOST HURTED
Please dont waste time in Watching this SENSE LESS MOVIE
UTTER WASTE OF TIME —
Watched MNIK on Sunday an over hyped,over sentimental, boring typical Karan Johar movie. Wonder how media faking people. TOI comparing Shahrukh to Tom Hanks in Forest Gump LOL.. It is height’s comedy. Don’t waste your money and time watching this bakwas movie
incredible film– especially the second half.
i’ve never been a srk fan– in fact, the only recent film of his i enjoyed was ‘chak de’ and that was primarily because of its themes of nationalism, teamwork, and equality. This is even better.
‘My Name Is Khan’ is fabulous because of its directorial expertise and strong script. If the editing in the first half were a bit more crisp, it would’ve been darn close to perfect.
@ yathin
srk was checked in the us AFTER he completed shooting for ‘mnik’– which just goes to show the unfounded & unfortunate biases that exist in several societies AND makes the film all the more relevant.
Here’s an article, if you’re interested: http://www.indicine.com/movies/bollywood/shahrukh-khan-detained-at-airpot-in-us-reactions/
Trust me, it’s not a waste of money. In fact, it’s a learning experience for each of us and SURELY worth a once or even twice watch.
This movie was made just because SRK was thoroughly checked by the US govt. but this movie doesn’t make any sense, Only few good msg’s is given to humanity, but i think no one (terrorsits or their supporters) will change after seeing this movie. Everything is bull shit , atleast people of this community should build up their responsibility by seeing this about how to bring up their children. But will it happen , ,,,,,,, SRK & his team has taken advantage of the situation to make money, That’s all
A heart touching movie. Superb Performances, Brilliant direction.
A must watch.
SRK rocks. This year MNIK will sweap all the awards.
This is hands down 5* movie. Though the Katrina stuff was lil overdone, Overall, great performances by everyone. Direction is excellent.
SRK can not act. He is as “good” as our local SRK. And, this film is ridiculously stupid.
It’s a great film with a great message. Why target every innocent person because of religion? Why create disparities and hatred? Muslim, Hindu, Christian…people of all religions are equal.
This film gives a beautiful message. The only difference in humans is—there are two types of humans–GOOD and BAD. There is no other difference. People who do not support such a film care more about glamor than world peace. Support this film and trash hatred!
Public has already trashed this movie..
http://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/15/mnik-after-grand-opening-comes-slump.htm
Crap! Trash it.
Silly storyline, silly characterization, too cinematic n boaring movie.
log paise banaane ke liye kuch bhi karte hain. Like political parties sympathize with them for votes, Karan Johar has gone a step ahead in this movie by mixing SRK’s superstardom, SRK’s religion and his own style of sentimental directorial skills to give this conveniently selective account of what happened post 9/11. Its a gross misuse of cinema platform and SRK’s popularity.
Dabba film. This film makes look like Muslims are
innocent. Wrong message .
@mahesh::::my dear friend mahesh do u really think tht hollywood people has got inspired from swathimutyam movie……..hehehehe nice joke…………….:)
Forrest Gump is based on a novel of the same name. The author Winston Groom started working on the novel in 1985 and it was published in 1986. And, Swathimutyam was released in 1985.
Apart from seemingly simple (or dumb??! or psycho!??) characterization of the lead, there’s not much similarity between those Forrest Gump and Swathimutyam.
Both MNIK and Forest Gump were inspired from Kamal Hasan’s Swatimutyam.. Dunno whether Swatimutyam was inspired from some English movie.. Overall inspirational film industry everywhere
Does this movie has elements “inspired” from Forrest Gump?