Schema Magazine

I have to hand it to Bollywood: an Indian Muslim with Asperger's Syndrome making his way across America to speak to President Obama is pretty original as far as plots go...even if the lead is a bit of a Forrest Gump rip-off. Lovable social ineptitude? Check. An unlikely romance with a beautiful woman despite said social ineptitude? Check. A cross-country trek that reeks of Gump running from coast to coast? Check!

But ultimately, the film deserves kudos for venturing into controversial territory (albeit with a pretty fantastical twist).

My Name is Khan is a movie entirely about a Muslim living in post-9/11 America, unlike a lot of mainstream films where one section is dedicated to the 'ethnic' character's point of view and the filmmaker pats himself on the back for including a smidgeon of diversity. And that's supposed to be something.

Khan is a symbol of sidelined people everywhere because of his "condition." Genius move on the part of the filmmakers. He's not just the quintessential outsider in America, but Asperger's makes him feel pretty foreign to "normal" society everywhere.

On a frivolous note, I am totally excited about seeing Shah Rukh and Kajol on the big screen together again. They're director Karan Johar's favorite co-star couple and Kajol looks like she hasn't aged a day since Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai!

Bollywood royalty is taking on rather unconventional roles these days. Shah Rukh Khan, one of the triad of ruling Khans (besides Aamir and Salman) of yore, plays the protagonist. In a fear-ridden post-9/11 US of A, airport security detains Khan and afterwards he decides to trek all the way to Washington and have a heart-to-heart with Pres Obama. He's promised the love of his life, a single Hindu mother.

Is it necessary for such a prominent post-9/11 Bollywood movie to be so fantastically fanciful, so extravagant and romantic? I suppose so, since it's Bollywood, after all, not art cinema. And Karan Johar, the director, is well-known for his penchant for the melodramatic. I have a feeling that the first half will be all song and dance, the second half sweat and tears.

But KJ is nothing if not reliable. We see his movies for the glitz, star power, and larger-than-life drama. Let's just hope this one manages to capture some of the substance that goes with a very real, very meaty topic like post-9/11 discrimination.

The movie released on February 12 in Canada. Right on time to compete with Valentine's Day, which, I have read, is not only soppy, but a wee bit racist and homophobic. Sigh...it will probably still do better...