Last night my fiance and I decided to watch a movie, and we decided on a Shah Rukh Khan film we had not seen yet (not many in that list). We set up My Name Is Khan (MNIK) and began to watch. It is the kind of movie that you just get sucked in and takes you on the journey with the characters. I love Rizwan Khan, Mandira, Sam, Ammi, Zakir, Haseena, Mamma Jenny, Funny Hair Joel, and the other characters that Rizwan comes across on his journey to meet the President of the US and utter the words “My name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist.”
It starts with an airport scene in which he gets taken to a room to be searched. I remembered that this actually happened to SRK while he was filming this movie in the US. Even though people recognized him and vouched for him being a famous star, they kept him for two hours. His name was supposedly similar to another name on the “watch list”. People in the holding area were asking for his autograph and everything. OK, maybe no one in the TSA has ever seen a Bollywood, but I might want to check out someones information if everyone else knew them.
The story is narrated by the letter/diary entries that Rizwan writes to his wife Mandira while on his journey. There are also flashbacks to his youth and when he moved to San Francisco and started his life with Mandira and Sam. Rizwan has Asperger’s and SRK does an amazing acting job being in character. He is still charming as ever, but never once do you suspect he is playing a part. I have taught a couple children with Asperger’s (much milder versions than the one Rizwan has) and he is really right on. I was laughing though when he comments on San Francisco being “scary, very scary.” Growing up a couple hours away from the city I went there all the time. I love SF but it can definitely be scary and I usually have some kind of panic attack while driving there (I hate it!).
So, I would love to hear all of your thoughts if you have seen the movie, and if not, watch it as soon as possible.
Bolly in the 'Bul 