September 11th, 2001. This is a day that destroyed many lives. This is a day that started a whole new level of hate crime. This is a day that ultimately caused the world to change. Consequently, the events that occurred on this date, caused many filmmakers to produce movies related around the event, but none captured the aftermath of this event as successfully as Karan Johar's "My Name Is Khan".
*SPOILER ALERT: THERE MAY BE FEW SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW, BUT I DON'T GIVE AWAY THE ENDING, I MERELY BRING UP SOME IMPORTANT SCENARIOS IN THE FILM THAT MIGHT BUILD MORE ANTICIPATION FOR THE FILM. IF THAT DOESN'T INTEREST YOU, I WOULD STOP READING NOW*
Starring Bollywood veterans, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, the film revolves around Rizwan Khan (Shahrukh Khan) who has Asperger's syndrome. The story is told via flashbacks of a letter Rizwan is writing to his wife, Mandira (Kajol), while he is on a mission. The mission is to meet the president and tell him, "My name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist". Through flashbacks, we come to know the reasons behind his mission. Khan is a good natured Muslim man who gets married to Mandira, a Hindu female. After being happily married a few years, the couple begins to go through problems after 9/11 strikes. Because Khan is a Muslim, they lose jobs, go through financial troubles, and consequently lose their son who is killed in a soccer field because of his Muslim last name. Mandira becomes devasted, and claims Rizwan to be the killer of their child as he would still be alive had she not married him. Rizwan, who was never taught that one religion is bad but that people come in 2 forms; good or bad despite their religion, tries to explain how terrorism isn't just Muslim based. Mandira tells him to go tell the president that, and so he begins his mission declaring that he won't come home until he accomplishes it...and so he goes on a long and hard journey meeting many people, and obstacles on the way.
Khizer's review/rant/opinions:
Although this movie is Bollywood, therefore being in Hindi/Urdu, I would honestly urge EVERYONE reading this to check it out. Because of the popularity of Bollywood movies in the world these days, they play in many large theatres with English subtitles.
This movie is one of the very few, if not the only one that shows post 9/11 consequences in eyes of the Muslim world. Most of the films that are made regarding terrorism and 9/11 inspired stories, often show the Muslim world to be heavily involved in terrorist attacks, but this movie shows that terrorism does not have any religion. There are good and bad people in every religion. There are extremists in every religion. This movie shows how a Muslim man who is very into religion is also helping to the rest of the community. It shows how as a Muslim, he still hurts, he still feels, he's still a human being. He is not some violent person carrying animosity against the rest of the world. People need to see that, in my opinion. People need to see that there are good and bad people everywhere and to not discriminate, stereotype, or hate based on biased judgements. I published a blog on stereotypes a while back, and as you can see, it is an issue that I think about very seriously.
My Name is Khan also explores other themes in the movie which include, love and acceptance. The love story and chemistry between Rizwan and Mandira is beautiful. Mandira accepts Rizwan for who he is despite him having Asperger's syndrome, and Rizwan's dedication and unconditional love for Mandira is so inspiring. Although he is on his mission to tell the president that "his name is Khan and he is not a terrorist", it seems that the reason behind him doing so (in his eyes) isn't necessarily to make the point that just because he is a Muslim, he shouldn't be called a terrorist, but to prove his love to Mandira. There is a scene in the film, where he sees Mandira looking for him, however, as much as he wants to confront her, he doesn't because he has't fulfilled his promise. In addition to spousal love, the movie also shows parental love, probably one of the greatest love one can get in this world. The connection between Mandira and her son Sameer is so heartwarming, and the amount of love she has for him is indescribable. She sacrifices her husband, her job, and her life, just to get him justice. If this isn't true love, what is?
The movie also shows how the only limits in life are the ones you set for yourself. Diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, Rizwan is bright from a young age, and because of love from his mom, brother, sister-in-law, wife, and child, he is able to accomplish so much. He lives life to the fullest, he functions just like everybody else, he works just like everybody else, and he interacts just like everybody else. Yes, because of the syndrome, some people might look at him as odd, or find things he does funny, or even go to the extent that he should be in special facilities, but really if he doesn't set any limits to his life than who are these people to do so? If everyone was the same and normal in this world where would the variety be?
I could keep going on about how good this movie is, but I will become redundant and annoying. The movie has already become one of the highest grossing Bollywood films, and is getting rave reviews from not only the Bollywood community, but in the Western world as well from major journals like the New York Times. I think the only drawback to the film is its lengthiness (almost 3 hours long), though the time is well used as there are very few drag scenes. The movie just hit theatres last week, so I would urge everyone once again to give the movie a shot. Take a loved one, take a friend, or even go yourself, but check it out....and if for some reason you miss it in theatres, I'm sure it will be out on DVD in the near future...this is one film you don't want to miss.
Khizer's rating: 5 stars
Here's a theatrical trailer:
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