MNIK - review

King Khan rules the frames in MNIK. The movie tagline could've been "My Name is Khan..i am all over the movie". Barely 13 people came for the show i went. So much for the hype. I think by protesting against the movie, shivsena infact, helped it gain undue publicity. If they had requested, demanded rather, a free preview, like in all their other cases previously, they would've known this is one movie, where the crowds would be absent and whatever antics they show would hardly get any visibility. Is it a bad movie then?

Actually no. By this time you would've got the gist of the story. Its an autistic muslim vs American mindset post 9/11. The premise though not something brand new, the screenplay has its own original sequences. The confrontation between Kajol and SRK, where she blames their marriage for the death of her son. Thats one really original scene i felt. Kajol suffers from Kabhi kushi Kabhi gham in many scenes. But considering she hardly does any movies these days, she is amazingly natural. But the movie belongs to Badshah Khan. He hams so much in his movies, he is a born "hamster". SRK movies are known for their candy floss romantic scenes, hummable (though similar sounding) songs, same dance steps irrespective of the song and infact he used to carry the same name too, across movies. Bollywood, though full of many a muslim superstar, hardly provides superhit movies with a muslim character in lead role. SRK would be distinctively remembered for his Kabir,the sad, khan role in Chak de India. He rocked big time in the movie and i had goose pimples watching the climax India-Aus hockey match.In this movie, he takes the role of muslim hero to whole new levels. Its hammered across every single frame that the hero is a devout muslim and such people hardly hurt a bee (YES. There is a scene where SRK preaches against cell phone usage for it might kill bees!! Would be interesting to see him in the next Airtel commercial :D ) At first his mannerisms seem a tad irritating. But the movie stretching for more than one and half hours on either side of interval, it grows on you. The first night scene between SRK and Kajol and his request to bed her...WOOOOHOO..for a minute Mohabbat man Khan cast a shadow over the autistic one :D

First half drags a bit with Khan's childhood story. Second half is a tad faster. In fact, had Kjo decided to make this a la Harry potter series, he could've shot an episode like, KHAN vs Katrina hurricane ( where SRK single handedly fights against flood caused by hurricane and saves a village) KHAN vs American mentality ( One stay in jail and one phone call about possible suspects and after effects of the hurricane episode, makes Khan overnight celebrity on par with US president) KHAN vs American president (supposedly Obama lookalike who resembles tiger woods more). The final episode would showcase the might of Khan compared to the newly elected-first ever african american president. All throughout the movie, Khan tries to meet president, only to get beaten up by cops, stabbed with knife and what not. In the end, typical Bollywood style, the president comes to meet Khan (maybe more out of fear that he might take over his presidency on popular demand??!!) There are so many other characters in the movie, like Jimmy shergill (SRK's bro..who with his "mehanath" builds a thriving business and leaves autistic SRK to take care of sales!!! so much for business acumen!!) some well known faces, who come just for a scene to mouth dialogues supporting King Khan's quest to meet the president. There is that "jaane tu Jaane na" cute girl who comes for 2 3 scenes carrying mike for her news reporter boyfriend. Background score rocks!! Shankar ehsaan loy reserves their best for Kjo movies it seems!!

The movie, though suffering from the saccharineness of Kjo, does raises some disturbing questions. Its true that the world has started looking at people with excess hair on the facial region a lot differently nowadays and farther west, the tanned you are, banned you are in many places. Just to prove these wrong sentiments right, there is an increasing number of people who belong to that branded category doing all these wrong deeds. We all so convieniently forget that, there are other people too, born innocent, leading innocent life who suffer because of these general brandishing of people based on their sect, color and religion. Inside India, we might be divided by many a barrier. But once you step outside into the so called civilised world, they hardly know the difference between a hindu/sikh/muslim/buddhist. To them its all one and the same - people who dont look like them or carry a name like them. The world is becoming increasingly polarised and decreasingly a small place to live in. The clash of civilisations is inevitable and as the natures law with everything else, it would be the survival of the fittest. Tolerance and love can delay the end a bit. But again, who will resist a good kick.

Review: My name is gils and i liked the movie.