‘My Name is Khan' to be splashed across 2,000 screens globally

With the Shiv Sena backing-off from its original threat to disrupt the screening of My Name is Khan, the stage is now set for a virtual blitzkrieg of the Shah Rukh Khan- Kajol starrer.

Fox Searchlight, the distributors of the film, has drawn plans to have nearly 2,000 prints across screens worldwide in the first phase.

In the second, expected to begin in April, this will be enhanced to 2,500 , said sources at Fox Star Studios.

Aamir Khan starrer 3 Idiots, Bollywood's biggest grosser till date, was released with 1,900 prints worldwide.

Analysts believe that the MNIK may just surpass the 3 Idiots figure on such a wide scale of the release.

The phase-wise approach to releasing this movie is on the lines of the Oscar-winner, Slumdog Millionaire, where Fox had started with less than 100 prints, going up gradually to over 2000, which included film festivals.

It is also for the first time that a Bollywood offering will be released in two phases in 66 countries, a list that includes Egypt, the Middle East, Germany, Poland, Australia, the UK and the US.

MNIK will be released in Hindi, English and Arabic and also with subtitles in German and Polish.

The premiere is scheduled in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and to be shown live on social networking portal, Facebook. The overseas market is critical to the film as it could account for 70 per cent of its collections.

The fact that Shah Rukh is the lead star is an added bonus given his huge popularity overseas.

If things go according to plan, MNIK will be the best piece of news to multiplexes following the super response to 3 Idiots and to the more recently released Ishqiya.

Movie Preview: My Name Is Khan has it all…dare not miss it!

Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Katie A. Keane, Kenton Duty, Jimmy Shergill, Christopher B. Duncan, Arjun Mathur, Zarina Wahab, Tanay Chheda

Director: Karan Johar

Producer: Hiroo Yash Johar

Distributed By: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Genre/Language: Reality+Romantic/ Hindi

Release Worldwide: Friday, 12th February 2010

Runtime: 161minutes

Pros: A unique approach at the trauma of Muslims in US post 9/11

Cons: Can’t say before release, except the Shiv Sena incident!

Ratings: 4.5/5

Character Introduction
Shahrukh Khan: Rizwan Khan, the protagonist Muslim who has Asperger syndrome
Kajol: Mandira a divorcee with a son, Rizwan’s ladylove and later wife
Tanay Chheda: Rizwan as a child
Zarina Wahab: Rizwan’s mother
Jimmy Shergill: Rizwan’s brother
Christopher B. Duncan: President Barack Obama

Synopsis
My Name Is Khan, a reality showing film, shows Rizwan’s story in US post 9/11 when terrorism is the greatest fear. Alongside, it is also going to to all to realize that all Muslims shouldn’t be blamed for the terror attacks on 9/11.

Rizwan Khan falls for Mandira, a divorcee with a kid and marries her. They lead a content life full of love and joy till the unfateful day of 9th September 2001 after which the outlook towards the Muslim undergo a vast change.

Rizwan is mistaken as a terrorist and that counts much for his autistic disorder. A devastated Mandira leaves him and Rizwan is left confused and shattered without love.

He decided to win back his status and love both and makes way to meet the US President.

Will he succeed? Will he meet Obama? What’s fated for Rizwan? …to be watched on 12th February 2010.

My views
The direction is simply awesome and undoubtedly the best by Karan so far. The sizzling chemistry between SRK and Kajol hasn’t faded away even a bit. All the actors do justice to their roles. Music is great and already top at the charts!

Conclusion – Get your tickets booked in advance to avoid the rush and the houseful board too! And ya, switch off your mobile while watching MNIK as missing even a single scene could leave you confused!

P.S. Don’t miss this one! It’s a movie of a lifetime!

WATCH: Shah Rukh sings 'Noor-e-Khuda'

Here is the latest chart buster Noor-e-Khuda from SRK-Kajol starrer My Name is Khan.

Failure teaches you everything: Shahrukh Khan

He has played many roles on the big screen, but today Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan donned the quizmaster's hat, grilled management students and advised them to consider failure as being crucial to teach pragmatic lessons in life.

"Success imparts no wisdom, failure teaches you everything.

Failure is very important. Fear of failure will make you pragmatic. It will make you logical in your thinking", he told a young audience at a quiz show here this evening.

Failure takes any form and it is the experience of failure that takes one's life forward, he added.

"Don't' worry, get things wrong and learn from it", he said at the quiz show where participants were questioned on varying subjects ranging from brands, marketing concepts to management principles.

"Failure would always make you want to work hard", he said.

WATCH: Shah Rukh hosts quiz show

Shah Rukh Khan, who hosts IIPM quizzing in Bangalore, says he loves the city as he has spent there his early years of life.

Shahrukh Khan says Asperger’s Syndrome made his character very interesting in ‘My Name is Khan’

‘My Name is Khan’, that’s now beckoning us to book our tickets, is a SRK-Kajol-Karan film that is set on the backdrop of 9/11 terrorism and how the innocent Muslims were suspected by US officials.

However, the character of Shahrukh, Rizwan Khan suffers from a mental illness called ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’, a form of autism and this is the kind of role ‘King Khan’ has never essayed before. An ecstatic Shahrukh quips,

”The most interesting part of the fact as an actor is that I’m playing a character who’s got Asperger’s. It’s also not in any which way to show it in a light which is not nice…but for an actor that’s a great thing to do, you know, to play a (person with a) disorder like this which very few people know about. And whenever you’re dealing with a disorder or a near…atypical situation, the first thought is that the sort of parameters you have to set that in no which way you are derogatory or deriding the disorder.

You have to make the protagonist very proud of what it is. The second part is you have to come as close to reality in depicting that characterisation and so one had to study a lot and one does get worried…

Of course, having said that, I have taken a few cinematic liberties with it, because I’ve used three or four traits which may not exist simultaneously in one person and tried to create onecharacter who has Asperger’s, called Rizwan Khan.”

So, that’s what Rizwan Khan is all about…….. A man who shows resilience amidst the ill-fated luck that conspires against him……..

Shahrukh Khan v/s. Shiv Sena: Arjun Rampal lashes out. Why don’t we assassinate evils?

‘My Name is Khan’, which is the most hyped and anticipated flick of Bollywood 2010 is reeling under threats from the stupid so-called Shiv Sena men and the King Khan who’s the protagonist of this Karan Johar film has bore the brunt of Shiv Sena’s autocratic slay of political power just for voicing his support to the Pakistani cricketers.

After receiving support from the mediamen and some of his friends from Bollywood fraternity, SRK has clearly showed how bigger is his command over the Indians without even holding any political seat. Another reputed actor Arjun Rampal has vented out his rage over the rascal brutes:

“The film fraternity can’t be bullied this way. Let’s not mock our democracy in this fashion. The CM himself has put his foot down. The lawbreakers must be brought to book. SRK was so thrilled when I got the National Award and now, it’s time I lent him every possible support. As a citizen of democratic India, I too have freedom of expression. If need be, I’ll be vocal about what I think is right,” barks out Arjun.

Sometimes, dear readers, I wonder that if saintly people like Indira Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi, John Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln can be assassinated……….Why not assassinate a devil like Bal Thackeray or Raj Thackeray……….Do you have any answer?

du mobile customers get exclusive access to ‘My name is Khan’ mobile content

In-line with its promise of bringing the latest mobile content from the world of entertainment, du has signed an exclusive deal with Sony Music Entertainment Middle East to provide its mobile customers with mobile content from the Indian movie star Shahrukh Khan’s much awaited movie, ‘My Name is Khan’.

Over a period of three months, du mobile subscribers will benefit from being the only ones to access the mobile content from the movie such as caller tunes, full track music, ringtones, wall papers, videos and polyphonic ringtones.

“We are extremely excited about this unique content partnership with du. We believe the synergies are perfect for My Name Is Khan which features Indian superstar Shahrukh Khan in the lead and whose music is already a sensation across all radio stations in the UAE.” commented Craig Pereira, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Sony Music Middle East.

“Through our agreement with Sony Music, du now has secured exclusivity for all mobile content of this soon-to-be released movie in the UAE. This latest initiative proves our commitment to providing customers with not only the best services but also the best entertainment content in the UAE.” commented Farid Faraidooni, chief commercial officer, du.

“We are committed to targeting and fulfilling our customers’ entertainment needs. By looking into different consumer segments, we are able to provide content that is appropriate and desirable to each and every customer. This personal touch boosts customers’ enjoyment and experience of du’s products and services,” added Faraidooni.

In order to obtain caller tunes from the exclusive ‘My name is Khan’ music offering, customers simply need to call 156. You can also access other mobile content such as full tracks, wallpapers, ringtones and more by sending SMS MNIK to 1234.

du’s partnership with media conglomerate Sony Music Entertainment Middle East follows earlier initiatives such as Music on Demand, which provides du customers with a huge library of Arabic music through an exclusive collaboration with Rotana. With this offer, music-lovers can choose from over 2000 titles by leading artists including Amr Diab, Elissa, Husain Al Jassmi, Najwa Karam, Shireen and many more.

Shah Rukh and I are connected to each other: Karan Johar

knowledge that “My Name Is Khan” is going through a storm. However, in the midst of it all, Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar are standing by each other. The director strongly believes that they are connected to each other more as brothers than being business partners.

“‘My Name Is Khan’ is a film which is a strong emotional connect for both Shah Rukh and I. He and I co-producing the film has nothing to do with money,” said Karan, whose Dharma Productions has made the film in collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.

“We are too connected to each other and when it comes to a family, you don’t question their close association. Do you question someone who is working with his brother in one assignment after another? Shah Rukh and I may be having different surnames but that doesn’t take away from the strong sense of brotherhood that we both carry,” he added.

What makes him supremely confident about his life-long relationship with Shah Rukh? Specially when Farah Khan had to move from Shah Rukh to Akshay Kumar for “Tees Maar Khan”.

“See, its not just the matter of directing a film which would have him as an actor. Tomorrow, I may not be directing a film with him but the fact is that both of us will always be a part of each other’s production house. In some way or another, in whatever capacity, we would be working with each other,” said Karan.

Releasing Friday, the film also stars Kajol and is set in the post 9/11 US.

Clarifying yet another misconception about the film, Karan says “My Name Is Khan” is not an issue-based film.

“Please let me set the record straight that ‘My Name Is Khan’ is not an issue based film. Instead it’s a human drama about a couple. The film will make you smile and result in tears in your eyes. It’s a film which connects with you and is totally emotionally based.”

He also clarifies on the religious connotation saying: “By no means am I aspiring to take forward the baton of an issue. Instead I am just using it as a part of the narrative. The film doesn’t have any religious or spiritual undertone to it but basically sends across the message of humanity, so let’s watch the film for its worth.”