My name is Khan - Review

Isn't the name enough?
Arguably the biggest release of the year, SRK-Kajol return in this Karan Johar directorial venture which has been backed by Fox. With the biggest worldwide release for an Indian film ever, does MNIK live up to the obscene amount of publicity & headlines(thanks to S.Sena) it has grabbed?
Lets just say, this is Shah Rukh Khan as you have never seen him before.

At the outset, let us clear one misconception. This is not just another New York/Kurbaan. While it does use the WTC attacks as a backdrop, it is truly the story of a man, who despite all the challenges, just wants to do good and live a happy life. It tells us the age old tale of Islamic terrorism through the innocent eyes of Rizwan.

The movie begins with Rizwan Khan(SRK) being interrogated at the airport for suspicious behaviour as he says he wants to meet the President of the USA. The film then moves into flashback & delves into the life of Rizwan, who suffers from the Asperger's syndrome. He faces great difficulties as a child & is guided by his mother(Zarina Wahab). His younger brother(Jimmy Shergill) moves to USA & eventually takes him along, where he by-chances to meet Mandira(Kajol). He understands her, falls in love & eventually the story deals with the twist their lives take due to 9/11.

The first half is superb, as the film builds Rizwan's character. One understands him, his thought process and his issues. The second half on the other hand is a little more dramatic. Many sequences are avoidable & add unnecessary masala to an otherwise heart-warming tale.

The screenplay of the film is good & dialogues apt. Visually, the film is brilliant. While it maintains the sheen of a Karan Johar film, it replaces the gloss with simplicity. Ravi.K.Chandran captures America beautifully & deserves a mention.
The music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy grows on you & fits well in the film. But this movie stands on it's performances, with one in particular.

Shah Rukh Khan. With a career spanning almost two decades, this has to be SRK's finest performance to date. Underplayed, believable, exceptional. Even for non-SRK fans, this one cannot be missed, you just can't not like him. He steals the show completely & if it wasn't for him, this would be a very ordinary fare. He breathes Rizwan & makes you forget the candy-floss SRK.
Kajol too, supports him brilliantly. She looks gorgeous & displays her acting prowess with ease. Their on-screen pairing is superb & unmatched.
Of the supporting cast, Zarina Wahab is great, Tanmay as the child Rizwan is exemplary, Jimmy Shergill passable, Navneet Nishan slightly obnoxious & Sonia Jehan surprisingly first-rate.

Karan Johar delivers again, but this time all credit to SRK. While the film is great, it is not because of the story or treatment but only the performances. As a director, this is not his best work, as a film it might be.

At the box office, the cash registers will be ringing all the way, as SRK garners the support of the country. Whether or not the fiasco was a marketing gimmick, we shall never know.
To sum it up, MNIK works. Even with some unneeded sequences in the second half, the film has soul and character. So damn the Sena and catch this movie as SRK is back with a bang. With a spate of forgettable films last year, MNIK will show you why he is indeed, a Superstar.

Critical: 4/5
Commercial: 4.5/5