BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA REVIEW: My Name Is Khan

MY NAME IS KHAN makes two strong statements...

• The first: B.C. and A.D. are designations used to label years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. There's a third designation now - 9/11. Post September 11, the world stands divided. Terrorist outfits continue to strike in the name of religion and the common man, not even remotely associated with these groups, is bearing the brunt. The world is not a safe place anymore.
  
  
• The second statement: There're two sets of people in this world - the good and the bad. No matter how strong the evil forces are, good always triumphs.

MY NAME IS KHAN mirrors the era we live in. Not a day goes by when you haven't heard/read/watched news of terror attacks and innocents being killed. We live in turbulent times. Also, the movie states - and states very strongly, without mincing words - Not all Muslims are terrorists.

Karan Johar's cinema got more real from KABHI ALVIDA NAA KEHNA onwards. In MY NAME IS KHAN, the storyteller attempts to make a social statement and succeeds completely. At the same time, it takes no sides. If the protagonist says 'My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist', it also exposes those who misadvise the youth with inflammatory and rabble-rousing speeches.

Karan's take on the issue deserves the highest praise, since a subject like this is difficult to attempt. Final word? MY NAME IS KHAN is Karan, SRK and Kajol's best outing to date. Do I need to add anything more?

Rizvan Khan [Shah Rukh Khan moves to San Francisco and lives with his brother [Jimmy Shergill] and sister-in-law [Sonya Jehan]. Rizvan, who has Asperger's syndrome, falls in love with Mandira [Kajol]. Despite protests from his brother, they get married and start a small business together. They are happy until September 11, when attitudes towards Muslims undergo a sea-change.

When tragedy strikes, Mandira is devastated and they split. Rizvan is confused and upset that the love of his life has left him. To win her back, he embarks on a touching and inspiring journey across America.

Let me alert you. The story unfolds feverishly from the very start itself. So if you miss a scene or two, chances are you would've missed some vital links in the story. The fact is, there's too much happening in the first half. Although the narrative tends to get leisurely-paced at times, the wheels continue to move from one episode to another.

A number of sequences are endearing. For instance, the romance between SRK and Kajol is subtle, yet charming. But it's SRK's relationship with Kajol and their kid that's one of the best parts of the movie. Your heart bleeds when an accident occurs and their lives are torn apart. Kajol's outburst - first, when her son meets with a catastrophe and second, when she confronts SRK - are truly shattering.

MY NAME IS KHAN's strength lies in the fact that you root for Khan all through. At the same time, you are weighed down when he's in a vulnerable situation, especially when he's labelled a terrorist and thrown behind bars. You don't realize it, but the fact is that you, as a spectator, have already got entwined in Rizvan and Mandira's lives.

There's a slight hitch in the second hour, when SRK returns to Georgia to save a hurricane-ravaged hamlet. Also, the media exercise tends to add to the length of the film. Nonetheless, it's a minor hiccup that doesn't rob the film of its punch.

There's just one word to illustrate Karan's direction - exemplary. One of the finest storytellers of our generation, he deserves brownie points for deviating from 'Karan Johar brand of cinema' and attempting a film that knocks on your heart and stimulates your mind. With MY NAME IS KHAN, Karan takes rapid strides as a storyteller.

Shibani Bathija's screenplay is truly arresting. Shibani and Niranjan Iyengar's dialogues are noteworthy and many a times, applaud-worthy. Ravi K. Chandran's cinematography is awe-inspiring. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music gels well with the nature of the film.

When a film stars two of the finest talents of the country, you expect nothing but the best. SRK, well, how does one describe his performance? To state that this is his best work so far would be cutting short the praise he truly deserves. In fact, no amount of praise can do sufficient justice to his portrayal of Rizvan Khan, who has Asperger's syndrome. His latest work is several notches above anything he has done before. The only compliment that I can think of is, SRK has a new screen-name now. Raj is passe, Rizvan it is.

Kajol is pure dynamite and casting her for this character was the most appropriate decision. No other actress could've matched SRK in histrionics the way Kajol has. In fact, SRK and Kajol compliment each other wonderfully well and this film only proves it yet again. It's a powerhouse performance from this supremely talented actress.

The film boasts of a number of capable actors, but the ones who leave a rock-solid impact are - in this order - Zarina Wahab, Sonya Jehan, Jimmy Shergill, Arjun Mathur, Parvin Dabas and Arif Zakaria. Sugandha Garg is confident. Navneet Nishan supports well. Vinay Pathak leaves a mark in a brief role. Tanay Chheda [young SRK] and Yuvaan Makaar [SRK and Kajol's son Sameer] are excellent. The American actors, especially the kid who plays Sameer's friend, deserves mention.

On the whole, MY NAME IS KHAN is a fascinating love story, has an angle of religion and a world-shaking incident as a backdrop. It not only entertains, but also mesmerises, enthrals and captivates the viewer in those 2.40 hours. At the same time, a film like MY NAME IS KHAN is sure to have a far-reaching influence due to its noble theme. I strongly advocate, don't miss this one!

Rating: 4.5/5

WATCH: Karan, SRK, Kajol attend My Name is Khan premiere

Director Karan Johar, actor Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol attend the red carpet premiere of My Name is Khan in Abu Dhabi.

I hope better sense prevails: Shah Rukh

Reacting to the Shiv Sena's continued opposition to the release of his latest film My Name Is Khan, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has expressed hope that everything will turn out well.

"I hope everything works out well and better sense prevails," SRK said while addressing a press conference in Abu Dhabi, where the world premiere of My Name Is Khan was held on Wednesday.

The actor, who has attracted the Sena's ire for supporting the inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL 3, declined to speak at length about the controversy surrounding the release of his film in Mumbai. According to him, being away from India he was in no position to comment on a situation that was changing by the minute.

Shiv Sena leaders have threatened to disrupt the screening of My Name is Khan in Mumbai unless Shah Rukh apologises to party chief Balasaheb Thackeray for his comments. Earlier there were reports of some cinema halls in the city being attacked.

Shah Rukh once again reiterated that his statement about the inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL was a 'normal stand'.

Besides Shah Rukh, his co-star Kajol and filmmaker Karan Johar were also present at the premiere of My Name Is Khan.

Talking about his reunion with Kajol after eight years, this is what Shah Rukh had to say, "Kajol has become more mature as an actor. Our films have brought us closer as friends."

"The most beautiful part about Kajol is her earnestness which hasn't changed at all even after so many years," he added.

According to SRK, a lot of hard work has gone into My Name is Khan. "I have never done as much research for any character as I have done for my role in My Name is Khan. I read books, and took note of every gesture that people suffering from Asperger Syndrome make. Besides that, a lot of inputs were provided by Karan and Shivani," he said.

Asked if he saw himself bagging a National Award for the film, Shah Rukh claimed acting was a 'spiritual experience' for him. "Acting has to be free from all considerations. Acting is spiritual experience. Khan is a high spiritual experience for me. I will be rewarded anyway. Yes, I have space in my library for a National Award. And I promise you before I finish I'll keep one there or steal one," he said.

The film sees SRK play a man suffering from Asperger Syndrome, who is mistaken for a terrorist post 9/11 and undertakes a long journey across the US to prove his innocence to the love of his life, played by Kajol. It was a story that became uncomfortably real for Shah Rukh when he was detained last year at an American airport, reportedly because of the Khan in his name.

At the premiere, Karan Johar spoke about his experience of working with such close friends as Shah Rukh and Kajol. "Sometimes it is tough directing friends, but they both respect me as a director. They knew that I knew my film and I knew that they would deliver their best. I don't remember any occasion when we had an argument or things turned ugly on the sets," said the 37-year-old filmmaker.

Kajol, who had fallen and hurt herself while shooting for My Name is Khan, clearly didn't let the small mishap dampen her spirits. "No one cared for me when I fell down. In fact Karan was clapping" she said in a lighter vein.

He hadn't exactly been Kajol's best buddy on that occasion, Shah Rukh admitted: "We went to her and pushed her down again!"

WATCH: I hope better sense prevails - SRK

Addressing a press conference in Abu Dhabi, where the worldwide premiere of his film My Name is Khan was held, Shah Rukh Khan said, "I hope everything works out well and better sense prevails."

‘My Name Is Khan’ will be the biggest release ever internationally

Everyone's awaiting ‘My Name Is Khan’, which will have the widest release ever for a Bollywood film in the international markets. In U.K., the film will open with an unheard of 125 prints, in U.S. the rough estimates are 115 to 125 prints, in Australia-NZ-Fiji it's [unheard again] 50 prints, in Middle East it's the same number of prints [50] and Pakistan [yes, it opens this Friday] will see a 25 print release.

In phase two, the film will open in Poland in April with 50 prints and also in Germany [dubbed German version] with 50 prints again. Which means, by April, approx. 550 to 600 prints of the film will be in circulation in Overseas alone.

´My Name Is Khan´ Rated A Social With ´UA´ Censor Certificate

Dharma Production Pvt. Ltd.'s Karan Johar directed, 'My Name Is Khan', has been rated as a social film and granted a 'UA' certificate (C.C. No. CIL/2/16/2010) by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer, 'My Name Is Khan', has a total length of 4421.31 metres in 18 reels, with deletion only in sound.

My Name Is Khan, first Indian film to release in Egypt after 15 years

Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name Is Khan is set to become the first Indian film to hit the Egyptian theaters after a gap of 15 years.

The hosting Indian cinema as the guest of honour at the 33rd Cairo International Film Festival, where more than 25 Indian movies were screened, seems to have paid.

The Indian Maulana Azad Cultural Centre here announced the Egyptian theatres are to receive copies of My Name Is Khan, which is set for a worldwide release on February 12, for screening.

The movie will represent a return of the Indian movies to Egyptian theatres after an absence of about 15 years. Indian movies have been extremely popular in Egypt since the 1950s but a recent wave of Egyptian comic flicks starting 1995 pushed them aside.

"Indians spend generously when producing their movies and the end result is superb. Indian movies have all the elements of attraction: love stories, songs, dance and scenery. Why wouldn't they be a success again in Egypt," Zaid al-Kurdi, manager of one of the distribution companies here, said.

"There was a repetition in the topics and stories of Indian movies. Egyptians got bored and as result I stopped requesting Indian movies. Today things are different. Indian movies are as good as American ones," Antoine Zind, Fox Warner's regional agent, said.

In 1980s', the popularity of Indian movies forced Egyptian legislators to declare a law stipulating that an Indian movie will not run in theatres longer than 5 weeks and that for every Indian movie shown, an Egyptian movie has to be produced.

'My Name Is Khan' advance booking steady in capital

Advance bookings for "My Name Is Khan" may have been halted in Mumbai following violent protests by the Shiv Sena, but the cash registers are ringing in the capital for the Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer.

Most cinema halls and multiplex chains had opened their ticket windows for the film Monday and have been receiving a positive response ever since despite the brouhaha in Mumbai over the film's release.

"We had opened advance bookings for 'My Name...' on Sunday. The bookings are quite decent as of now. We have sold about 300-400 tickets per day since Sunday for the entire weekend for the Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region). So in effect about 2,000 tickets have been sold in all - which is a good figure," Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas) of Wave Cinemas.

Spice Cinemas has also been registering good advance bookings, says Amit Awasthi, manager (programming and operations) of the multiplex chain.

"The advance is very good as of now and we are going to run 25 shows per day. The maximum ticket price is Rs.175 and minimum is Rs.80. We are getting good response so far and it will be too early to say about the future of the movie. May be it heats up the counters and picks up like '3 Idiots' over the weekend," said Awasthi.

Delhi-based distributor Joginder Mahajan says that the advance booking for "My Name Is Khan" in Delhi is good, but comparatively lower than that of Vishal Bharadwaj's recently released "Ishqiya".

"Surprisingly, the bookings for 'My Name Is Khan' is just 60 percent of 'Ishqiya'. Probably because the subject has no tempo and there already have been movies based on the same subject like 'New York' and 'Kurbaan'. But the main advantage this movie has is that there is no big release before April," said Mahajan.

Single screen theatres like Sapna and Sangam in south Delhi too are hopeful about doing good business by screening the film.

"We had opened our bookings for the film on Monday. We can't share details about how good the bookings are, but tickets are available," said an official in Sangam.

A representative for Sapna Cinema said: "The bookings are good so far and we are expecting good business from this film."

NEW PICS: My Name is Khan

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol recreate their chemistry in My Name is Khan, releasing Friday February 12. Check them out in the new stills of the film.

Shahrukh Khan in full mood to go comic!

The audience may have loved Shahrukh Khan's serious acting in films like RAB NE BANA DI JODI, CHAK DE INDIA and SWADES but there is no denying the fact that apart from romance (where he is the undisputed king), the audience simply adores SRK's comedies. His quick wit and deadly humor and the electric energy that the man oozes helps him to sail through comic roles with ease and �lan. And so when the Baadshah himself expressed his desire to make a comedy after the sci-fi flick, RA-1 and DON sequel, it has to be greeted with much joy!

In fact Shahrukh has confirmed in a recent interview that he has grown tired of serious acting. Commending ex-comedy king, Govinda, SRK says that he feels that Chi Chi surely deserves a National Award for the brilliant comic roles that he has done. He also expressed his desire to win a National Award quite regretting the fact that he was ignored for the awards for his performances in SWADES and CHAK DE INDIA, and in his own characteristic humour added that it is better that he gets a National Award before getting an Oscar, which will make his children happy .

Well, SRK here's wishing you get the National as well as the Oscar.