My
Name
Is
Khan
makes
two
strong
statements...
*
The
first:
B.C.
[before
Christ]
and
A.D.
[after
death]
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
at
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!