PLOT
My Name Is Khan is based on the atrocities faced by Muslims as an aftermath of 9/11 attack. Shahrukh Khan plays Rizwan Khan who is out to prove and proclaim to the world that Muslims are not synonymous with terrorists and that the religion does not propagate any form of violence. He falls in love with Mandira who plays Kajol and the evnents which follow their marriage are the reason why Rizwan wants to quell the wrong notions about Muslims.
SO WHY DOES ONE WATCH THIS MOVIE?
POSITIVES
The movie does not lack the positives and here they are as far as I could observe.
1.Kajol is simply superb and contemporary actresses who are making moolah by the bucketful with almost zilch acting capabilities must take acting lessons from this legendary actress. How well she emotes just with her eyes is outstanding. Full marks to her for looking so real and immersing herself in the skin of the character Mandira. She still looks pretty if she does a slight make up and gives the latest in the lot a run for their money.
2.SRK the mainstay of the movie is brilliant in almost all the scenes he does. His character is weak as far as wielding power is concerned but how well his role is written to make it look powerful. His voice over inb certain scenes is simply superb. If not the best this has to be one of the best performances of his career. One wonders why he squanders his talent on films like Billu and not indulge in cinema of the ilk of this film. He emotes in such subtle ways that the viewer is most certainly enthralled in the performance. He seems to have fully done his homework on the autism. Notice how we imitates them to every fine detail. Thats the hallmark of a great actor
3.The film does not fall short of lessons at every step.
a. It teaches us that humanity is superior to religion.
b.It sermonizes also that people must follow the religion and not the followers of religion.
c. Love is the most powerful tool and not physical or logical strength is also one of the core lessons this beautiful film gives out.
d. Not many would take this lesson from the film that if you have talent it can win you all battles indirectly or directly.
e.Were there is a will theres a way.
fGod helps those who help themselves.
4.Side actors have played their part in a silken manner.
5.Karan Johar has tried his best to put every incident in the film to explanation.
6.There are no lip sunc songs and that gives the movie a modern touch.The song Noor e Khuda and Sajda stand out for the situations they are played in and you keep them out of the cinema house too.
7.All the characters in the movie get the Urdu diction right.
8.The lady playing SRK's mother is excellent in her brief part.
9.The slumdog kid who plays the role of child Rizvan is also magnificent in his part.
10. Karan Johar has made a film very different from his brand of flicks.
11.The sentimentally moving scenes wallop you to weep alongside the protagonists.
12.The location viz. San Fransisco has been captured with utmost grandeur in sight.
13 It is a family film with no obscenity at all.
NEGATIVES
1.There are 2 gaffes or blunders in the movie: One is that Barkha Dutt is not a hindi Journalist and second is that the alms collection post 9/11 was not done in such a jolly mood as depicted.
2. There are times when the movie really sags and that slows down the tempo and gives the viewers a chance to yawn.
3.The songs are weak and barring 3 songs you dont have much of a song list to carry home humming.
To conclude My Name Is Khan must be watched for the secularism and democratic ways it supports. SRK is superb and Kajol is at her level best. It may not be entertaining at times but it is a movie which shall bag many many awards in ceremonies to come.
I will go with a generous 3.5 on 5 for this one. Go watch it, there are many lessons you would get and films like these which are a family watch are rare in these sex obsessed times.
