User reviews

My Name Is Khan is without a doubt Karan Johar's most accomplished work to date - powerful, moving and involving. Johar, not a particularly good director, seems to have learnt a lot from the feedback he must have got for his previous films. At times it was difficult to believe it was actually directed by Johar and written by Shibani Bathija, who finally proves considerable talent as a writer. The film is thoroughly entertaining and the evident attention Johar paid to the smallest of details is commendable. The film does get sentimental at places, but it never goes over-the-top like Johar's other films and remains fairly restrained and completely authentic, which makes the emotional impact on the viewer much stronger.

The film is traditionally a love story more than anything else, but the ever relevant message behind it is wonderfully conveyed through such terms as innocence and guilt, kindness and inhumanity, truth and untruth, justice and injustice, love and hate. All these contrasting terms intelligently swap places through the story of innocent civilians accused for no fault of their own post the 9/11 attacks. The result of this tragic incident made the lives of so many of them miserable. This part of the film is unpleasant viewing even though it is one-sided and not entirely credible.

That's where our hero, Rizwan Khan, is thrown. He has Asperger's Syndrome, he's different, he's naive, he takes every word literally, but he is intelligent and talented, and his perception of life is as his beloved mother taught him: the world includes only two groups of people - good people who do good and bad people who do bad. This is so overly general yet so very true. The memory of his mother follows him always, and it's easy to see why. The portrayal of Rizwan's childhood is wonderful. His relationship with the love of his life, Mandira, a young and vibrant single mother who works as a hairdresser and who ultimately agrees to marry him, is totally charming.

The narrative style is exemplary. The serious proceedings are flavoured with humour, romance and some wonderful songs. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy create another magical soundtrack and give life to the film with such tracks as "Sajda", "Noor-E-Khuda" and "Tera Naina Re". The fact that songs are playing only over montage sequences letting the actors no chance to lip-sync in a true Hindi film style, is appreciable but I, for one, at points really missed the glamorous and colourful numbers from mainstream films, the more so as it stars Shahrukh Khan and Kajol after so many years.

The film clearly works better in the first half. It is much simpler, lighter and more enjoyable. The later half introduces the post-9/11 America with all of its disturbing images of discrimination, mindless attacks and murder. Johar's depiction of this phase is quite flawed though as a film it works. From one side we have Rizwan who goes to tell the world of his complete innocence and his not being a terrorist, and from the other we see his wife Mandira who seeks justice post a very tragic incident of which she blames Khan himself. Sadly most American characters are portrayed as stereotypes, especially the teenagers, although it's forgivable within the context of the film.

Khan's journey in the US is enjoyable. It unfolds in several episodes, each one presenting the different people he meets on his way, all quite caricaturish: a motel owner named Jitesh, a lovely Muslim couple who offer him some food, a group of Islamists led by Faisal Rahman whom Khan reports to FBI in order to destroy their violent plans. The most memorable episode, however, is that of Mama Jenny and her son 'Funny Hair' Joel from the rural Wilhemina, Georgia, which is incredibly heart-touching despite being stereotypical to the core. The story of Mamma Jenny is moving, and Johar captures the spirit of the village and its people with skill. The gospel choir in the church singing "We Shall Overcome" is one of my favourite scenes in the film.

Well, there comes the acting. Shahrukh Khan's appearance in this film in this kind of a role has been the subject of much attention, and rightfully so. This is clearly one of his most challenging roles. He is really good. It's amazing to see him transform from the biggest star in the world into a simple autistic man and play it with conviction. His mannerisms, body language, tone, dialogue delivery and his occasional breaks into timid and embarrassed laughs are all spot on and make his character extremely likable and endearing. This is not his best performance, but it's interesting and more than anything, he still manages to be a star, which is a good thing.

As expected, he is totally matched if not surpassed by Kajol, whose charismatic nature, easy charm, evident experience and strong screen presence all rally here into one heartbreaking performance that is replete with authenticity, maturity and strength. As Mandira, she looks incredibly beautiful and is as natural, intense and compelling as ever, playing the part with passion and depth and infusing it with energy and warmth. In some moments she outdoes herself. No, I'm not only referring to her powerful breakdown scenes (which are great), but also the many scenes showing her interaction with Khan. Note for instance the one in which she promptly decides to accept his earnest proposal. It's one of their best moments together.

Johar selected a great supporting cast. Every actor, no matter how lengthy his character is, performs well. Zarina Wahab is outstanding in a brief but memorable role as Rizwan's caring and loving mother. Jimmy Shergill is very effective as Rizwan's brother Zakeer, who has always felt deprived by his mother because of his brother's mental disorder. Sonya Jehan is superb as Zakeer's wife Haseena and acts with grace. So is Katie A. Keane who plays Mandira's friend, Sarah. Tanay Chheda is first-rate as the young Rizwan. Jennifer Echols is lovable as Mamma Jenny.

To sum it up, My Name is Khan is a nice film and an altogether worthy effort even if not a particularly good film in and of itself. It is interesting for the most part, quite entertaining throughout, and it may definitely make some look at certain things differently. It is well performed and is beautifully shot. Kudos to all involved in the technical area. But above all, it works because of Mr. and Mrs. Khan, who steal the show and take over the film itself and the faulty script. Watch it for them, I recommend you to see their story.

As a middle school teacher, I think there aren't many better movies for showing how 9/11 effected our migrant community. The movie is a bit broad, and it is definitely not flag waving, but it tackles real issues, and is emotionally taxing. The lead actor is very, very popular in South Asia, Africa, and China. Many of my students whose parents are from other countries easily recognize the actor. My students are at a point where they are very concerned with others opinions, and are not sure of their place in the world. This film allows my students to empathize with other cultures. It makes my students whose parents are foreign feel less alone. If you are looking for a great American drama, this is not it. If you want a window in to how the rest of the world lives, views America, and how they sometimes feel left out, this is it. I have yet to have a parent, a student, or a fellow teacher watch it and say, "blah".

I saw this with my family in a theatre. Superb film. Found the movie to b a bit drag at times. No overacting by Srk this time. I ain't no fan of Srk but in this movie he was decent. He got into the character this time. Kajol was good. The flood scenes were a bit cheesy n unnecessary. Nonetheless a decent watch. It deals with racism, loss, stigma about a particular community, communal hatred, hope, perseverance. If you want your life to be rocked go see it. A really wonderful film which should not be missed. Don't be put off because it is an Indian film, this is much better than "copycat BARFI" and much more worthy of Oscar nomination which it has missed.

IF you believe that you have seen the best of srk think again. This movie will rock your world upside down and it will make you wonder how come an actor can make you fall in love with him every time he perform in a movie. the story, full staff of the movie every thing to the smallest details has been crafted as an unforgettable master piece that will live in the hearts and thoughts of audience for years and years to come. srk has raised the bar again giving all other actors and film makers a level that is hard to reach.

As for the movie and the story i believe the best thing to do is for you to just watch it. personally when i got out of the movie theater i felt like to buy another ticket and get back to see it again that's how attached and obsessed i came with this movie. if you want your life to be rocked go see it.

I just returned home after the screening of MNIK and i had a blast! I just thought i should share my experience with all of you so here it goes...

First things first it ain't a typical bollywood masala flick! It has India's most famous on-screen couple SRK-Kajol but it is not KKHH or DDLJ.... Directed by the supremely talented Karan Johar this movie is an absolute stunner!! In fact everybody(mostly were British) fell in love with SRK's character Rizwan Khan in the movie! Kajol has given a wonderful performance in the movie! I wont be surprised if this movie is nominated for Oscars!

SRK plays Rizwan Khan who suffers from autism or commonly known as asperger's syndrome who is married to a single mother Kajol.. The movie deals with effects of 9/11 which shook the world! One man sets out to see the president of USA and shows wonderfully how the people should be strong to chuck away their fears.. The main highlights of the movie are SRK and the climax! Oh what a climax the movie has! You cant control but smile with lots of tears in eyes seeing the climax!! Once again SRK shows that he is not only here for comments and bad films(as people say)

No movie in recent times has given so much of emotional attachment with the characters of the film!! The movie will become a cult classic for SRK fans and even those who hate SRK.. I wont spoil anything about the movie but i would say one thing: Wait for 12th Feb and book the tickets for the movie as soon as you can! And believe me it will change your life completely(and don't forget to thank me later! :)! The movie will break all records and set new trends in film making) For the people in India i feel lucky to have seen the movie before you but don't be disappointed! Better late then never!! I repeat whenever you will watch it your life will change completely!!

This movie deserves a full 10!!

Thanks and Regards!

This movie I got to say is the most endearing & has some superb performances from Shahrukh and Kajol.It is undoubtedly one of the most moving & meaningful movies which has been spurned out from Bollywood.Moving away from all stereotyped roles,acting,storyline, this movie places its flag of its own.All credits to Karan Johar for telling such a complex subject in such simple words.

Brilliant cinematography,direction & performance makes this film worth watching not one but many times.The characters stay with you for a long time even after you leave the theater.SRK is Awesome in his acting along with Kajol supporting her character brilliantly.SRK never for once loses his grip on the character despite playing a patient of Asperger Syndrome which is one of the most challenging role played by any Indian actor or any Hollywood actor like Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind.

Go Watch this Soul-Tearing movie which forces you to re-think about the myths of religion,classes,communities & genders in which the human beings are classified every now & then.All this along with entertaining you all the way with some very cute funny scenes.Take the message from this movie & pass it along to everybody.This is what this movie deserves.

A Gr8 movie.Must watch.

10/10.

Mandira tells Rizwan she'll buy 6 hair products from him but he tells her he'll only sell her four because the remaining two will go to waste. He may be the world's worst salesman but he's the best human being. This is Rizwan, an innocent, clean hearted, simple guy who believes there are only two types of people in this world; those who are good and those who are bad. The reason for his innocence and candidness is due to the Asperger's Syndrome. You see he may be different but he definitely isn't stupid, in fact I believe we can all learn from him.

The plot of this film is well known so I won't bore you with too much detail. This film is essentially a love story between Rizwan Khan (Shahrukh Khan) and Mandira (Kajol). However due to the events of the time their relationship is destroyed and Rizwan innocently sets out on a journey to clear his name.

When watching the film you'll see Karan has once again used flashbacks to portray his story but this is not your typical Karan Johar film. It is clearly more realistic than his previous films and I must say he has matured well.

The first half is focused on the Rizwan-Mandira love story. And it is done in a style that only Karan could do. I am a big fan of his previous "young" love stories but he is even better in this mature, realistic portrayal of "love at first sight". He makes us feel what Rizwan feels through his direction.

My only problems with this film are in the second half when it begins to get more dramatic. And SRK mentioned himself that he wished the film was handled in a different way. And I completely agree with him.

Where the first half succeeded in being fluent and tightly knit, the second half begins to become more far-fetched and loose. And I blame this on Shibani Bhatija.

In terms of cinematography, you've got to give it to Ravi K Chandran, the film was filmed beautifully. The locales were very pleasing to the eye, were not over-powering and used simply as a back-drop.

Coming onto the extras, I think this is possibly the only Bollywood film that has managed to correctly use English speaking actors and not turn them into caricatures or use fake dubbing. And for once, these extras can actually act! They have been used brilliantly and are totally believable.

The supporting cast is flawless, they are relatively unknown actors (apart from Jimmy Shergill) and this is effective in making the story believable. They give heart-felt performances that compliment the lead actors.

Coming to the lead actors... Rizwan Khan is without a doubt my most favourite character from any film. His sincerity and innocence is heart wrenching and there is only one man who could have done justice to this role and that is Shah Rukh Khan.

Is there any role this man cannot do? He's done it all and yet he can still leave us gob-smacked. While watching the film I was in awe. In the scenes where Rizwan is faced with some sort of confrontation or hard- ship, he goes back into his shell and finds comfort in his religion. SRK makes you feel Rizwan's loneliness and confusion of how the world can be the way it is. When Rizwan is happy, you feel happy; when he is sad, you feel sad; when he is hurt, you feel hurt; and when he is confused and lost, you feel like reaching out and protecting him. I could keep going on about Rizwan and SRK but I would not do them justice, you have to go see the film to realise what I mean.

I'm so glad to see Kajol back and especially with SRK. Their chemistry in previous films has created history and they do it once again in MNIK. She compliments SRK so well because she is a great actress herself. Look out for the outburst at Rizwan that has been mentioned so many times and her breakdown just before that. THE greatest actress Bollywood has ever had, period

Go watch this film now and I promise you, you will not be disappointed. Shah Rukh Khan alone will make sure of that. I myself am going to go watch it a few more times and I can't wait!

Sometimes i think that some Indian reviewers are getting mad. They don't appreciate for someone who trying to change himself in his field. Karan Johar is not Steven Spielberg or James Cameroon.But he tried to change the way of film making in Indian cinema.MNIK is an attempt for a change.OK may be script has some flaws but it cannot be wrong in some places. American people think they r god in everything.It is possible that hurricane can blew away the American govt.it is a natural calamity.every thing is possible.Shahrukh has nothing to prove .Its OK he is inspired with some others acting but not copied anybody.He is very much acting in his way.Kajol is powerful in his acting skills and had a wonderful chemistry with SRK. Music is balanced and stick to theme of peace.Overall the movie is Paisa vasool And gr8 effort.I am very disappoint with the many Indian reviewers.

Welcome to a new world: Rizwan's world! There is no religion in his world only good people and bad people! He suffers from a form of autism; asperger's syndrome but that doesn't stop him from differentiating between good and bad and mind you he is a genius and has a pretty good memory.. He doesn't hesitate in saying the truth and is always ready to help and love others.. He says the Khans don't break their promise! He hates yellow color and says the use of mobile phone will kill bees and eventually human beings!

This movie isn't a copy of New York or Kurbaan as people say.. In fact this is the only movie in recent times with a super strong message.. The music is soulful and gels along with the movie very well.. Cinematography is top notch! Hats off to Karan Johar for his marvelous direction and special accolades must be given to Shibani Bhatija for superb dialogues! But the man who deserves special kudos and a standing ovation is the king khan himself!! Forget Chak de! Forget Swades or forget anything you remember about him!! The moment you are out of the hall you wont be able to think SRK as a normal person... Funny but yeah he has acted so beautifully that you will only remember Shah Rukh as Rizwan! Yes Rizwan is his new name now!! Kajol was also good in her role even though she doesn't have a big role in the movie! Her sizzling chemistry with SRK is visible whenever the duo are together on screen.. specially in the song Tere Naina!

He doesn't care what problem is he in or how famous he has become by doing those deeds which every human being should do! He only cares about a promise that he has to carry out in order to rebuild his shattered dreams of a successful life.. He loves Mandira(Kajol) and her son very much and he is ready to do anything for them!! He never forgets anyone who helped him! All he wants is peace in the world and for every human being!!

SRK is back with a bang!! My Name Is Khan will make you laugh, it will make you cry and it will make you fall in love with Khan!! So please take my advice watch the movie as soon as possible!!

My Rating 10/10

Thanks and Regards!

After watching this prestigious project of King Khan, the most interesting revelation to make is, that in MNIK the two close friends of Khan, Kajol & Karan have scored well ahead of Shahrukh in all respects. In other words, the movie and its emotional experience entirely belongs to Kajol, for her outstanding performance and Karan, for his unexpectedly hard hitting & thoughtful direction.

It right away starts off with the already famous scene of Shahrukh's interrogation at the airport and then keeps on moving into a series of flashbacks. The first half has a slow pace and is more or less predictable. Still, the subtle scenes between Shahrukh & Kajol are nicely written and finely executed. However the scene where Shahrukh shows Kajol, the city from a hill top is quite similar to the one in "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi". Besides this, the childhood sequences of Khan's life, lack the required depth and could have been much better.

The real action starts post intermission, which also leads to major glitches in the screenplay. The sequences where Shahrukh is travelling through various places, meeting variety of people is a bit lengthy also highly inspired from Tom Hank's "Forrest Gump". Actually as the main emphasis shifts onto the theme of meeting the President, the film takes an unexpected turn and goes over the top to some extent. The un-necessary focus on media coverage and political references takes away the emotional essence of the story, making the viewer a little uninterested.

To be precise there are three strong merits in MNIK.

1. One is the amazingly natural and highly expressive performance by Kajol. In fact I would like to rate Kajol's emotional scene with her son, as one of best ever tragedy scenes in Hindi Films till date. The sequence reminded me of an equally great hospital scene of "Sharaabi".

2. Second is the director Karan Johar, who surprisingly returns with a more realistic, dark and controversial subject, completely in contrast with all of his previous projects.

3. Third and the most important merit of the movie is its solid and hard-hitting message to the world that "Everyone in a particular religion or community cannot and should not be punished for the inhuman crimes committed by a few people of the same origin." Coming back to Shahrukh Khan, the hard work is clearly visible and the effort is quite admirable. Shahrukh no doubt comes up with a noticeable performance as The Khan. But truly speaking, there are undeniable glimpses of Dustin Hoffman & Sean Penn, clearly visible in his autistic act. Khan's performance will surely impress millions of his Bollywood fans who love watching only Hindi Films. But for the movie buffs who are well familiar with Dustin Hoffman in "Rainman", Sean Penn in "I am Sam" and Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump"……., Shahrukh has simply done a good job. He visibly tries hard to move away from all the above references and does come up with a fine performance. But the impact of all the above three names in their respective roles is so huge that it unintentionally leads you to a comparison.

In addition to this, the writing also shows some major faults in the screenplay. For instance, I am still not able to figure out that which Hindu-Muslim Riots happened in 1983 in Mumbai. Secondly, in the few initial scenes, it's shown that Shahrukh has a serious problem with Yellow color. Yet in the second half he is shown holding a yellow cardboard in his hand.

Lastly in the final hour, everything just goes on happening so easily, which completely contradicts the realistic feel of the movie and lessens its final impact on the viewer. The movies also raises a question that why Karan approved of making "Kurbaan" on a similar subject of 9/11 impact on Muslims in America, when he was himself making MNIK on the same subject? Apart from the impressive Kajol act, Jimmy Shergil excels in his few scenes and so does Sonya Jehan who plays Jimmy's wife. Parveen Dabbas shines as a Sikh who opts for cutting his hair after 9/11 in order to survive the hate attacks. Both Vinay Pathak and Zareena Wahab make their presence felt in their small roles.

Cinematography is great with some new unexplored locations looking fresh on screen. But I found Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music lacking the melody part once again. However, Karan very intelligently, uses only few full length songs in the movie and rest of them are just there as a part of the background music.

Summing up, "MNIK" is surely one of those few good movies which are capable of raising a question and starting a debate. Many of the viewers might miss the regular glossy & romantic feature of a Shahrukh-Karan film. But MNIK is a clear indication of changing times in Bollywood and should be taken in good spirits.It's not a perfect piece of art but a laudable effort indeed from Dharma Productions.

This movie has such an important theme and had a huge impact on me. In this part of the world, religious intolerance is evident, especially with the minority I can from. America needs to KNOW that not all Muslims/Arabs are terrorist. You claim religious tolerance and indifference when in fact you are blinded by your own grief and misjudgment. Please let this movie change that, and become an eye-opener not only to cultural and religious tolerance in the US but all around the world, including in Egypt. The main idea is reiterated in the movie over and over again - there are only good people and bad people - there is no other difference. Brilliant movie!

There are only two kind of people in the world:GOOD people who do good things and BAD people who do bad things.In this world where the definitions of good and bad are changing everyday by those who are in power and those who want the power, most of us just go with the flow and believe the values which are most convenient to us.

But there exist some people who are gifted(or cursed;depends on your point of view) to see things as they are without their interests hindering the view of their souls. One such soul belongs to the protagonist of this movie who will touch your heart for sure.

Without giving any details and spoiling your experience I would like u to go and watch this movie without presuming anything.I am not saying that it is without flaws:you may find the lead actress a bit too shrill at times, the editing a bit finer and the background score too loud in two or three scenes but watch this movie for its intent and its message that there is nothing in this world which holds as much power as an emotion:LOVE.

This is one of the best Bollywood movie I've seen so far. MNIK is awesome. Its a must watch for every human being. Its a movie for humanity. The way Shahrukh Khan has projected himself as an autistic patient is just awesome. Kudos to him. This is by far his best acting. After this movie, he has proved why he is called The King of Bollywood. He is in a league of his own. No one is even close to him. I have loved the movie. You will not be able to take away your eyes for a single minute in this 160mins movie. This is just fabulous. Kajol as Mandira was awesome too. She had played an excellent character and supported SRK very well. Their chemistry is to die for. Few moments in the movie will make you cry. The way he goes to an only Christian event and donates the money and says "Take this money for the Africans who are not Christians, darling" is awesome. This movie will be an all-time blockbuster. Go and Watch this movie !!

My name is Khan tells story of Muslim people living in US before and after the 9/11 tragedy. Although the movie is bold and quite a breakthrough in Bollywood landscape, it still doesn't do justice and overall subjective. Sharukh Khan is a great actor, he played an autistic Muslim who travel the continent with one mission, to meet the president and to clarify (based on his wife request) that not all Muslims are terrorist, obviously not him nor his dead son, victim caused by the race riot. I liked him, he gave honest and thrilling acting - a solid reason just to see the movie. Kajol, the dark beauty is also good, I used to love her but she kinda over-reacted at some scene and leave me cringe on my seat. But the chemistry of this two lead is undeniable, dare I say it's more 'real' than any Hollywood romantic couple on screen. Like I mention earlier, My name is Khan is a breakthrough but at the end of the movie you get a mixed feeling, that is it's subjective and not satisfying enough. But, taking in hand a very sensitive matter I do appreciate the director, Karan Johar from his 'escape' of the comfort zone and direct a delicate project. 9/10.

My Name is Khan is a terrific film, and of course I really enjoyed seeing all the Bay Area scenes. It is amazing that, despite living in India, how much Karan Johar has an NRI mindset. All the scenes, dialogs, situations, characters, and extras seemed so authentic as if he's taken actual snapshots of life in the US. Minute details such as California fashion, American dinners, the Autism alert card, arrogant attitude of interrogators, or even gospel choir in the rural South have been paid close attention to.

Kajol acted flawlessly as always. The role of Rizwan Khan is an utmost demanding one and really has tested SRK's limits. Dustin Hoffman has immortalized his character with his perfect performance in Rain Man. While SRK has the milder Aspiringer's Syndrome, rather than autism, comparisons between the two performances are unavoidable. It looks like SRK didn't win this competition, but his performance was still relatively good, no doubt. All the supporting actors did a fantastic job. I particularly liked Aunt Jenny, Jimmy Shergill's wife, and Sarah.

While KJo has done a fantastic job of making his film look truly American, it has been presented in a "too polished" manner. I don't believe realistic cinema is KJo's forte. His films are too glamorous, glossy, and fine-tuned to bring out the raw emotions of a dark world. KANK was a disaster in this regard, while MNIK is a huge improvement but still could have been better. Well-established stars also can be a deterrent. We all know what the film is about, but come on; every Bollywood fan wants to see SRK-Kajol in a Bollywood musical romance--not the way they were paired in this movie. Films like New York and Kurbaan have done a much better job with the post-9/11 genre. For the first time, KJo's film didn't have a must-buy soundtrack. Sajda is a nice song, but that is the high point of the soundtrack. Another major flaw in this film is the timeline; the "incident" is shown to occur in the wake of 9/11 (not later than 2002), and SRK begins the search to meet the President; 6 months later, it is 2008.

This movie has a very grandiose ambition of touching upon the hurt and disenchantment caused to people of a certain colour, who are mostly American by nationality. It also touches upon the self-alienation brought upon many by the events of September 9/11.

At the core of the movie is a story and a script with deep and universal symbolism with characters that represent innocence, mistrust and hope.

Caked over that promising central basis of the film is unfortunately a lot of bad direction, loose screenplay and a wholeheartedly bad, unnecessary and wretched use of music and emotional drama. What could have been a resoundingly powerful journey of poignant cinema, instead comes across as a commercial hijacking of sensitive issues.

At its heart, it is still a film with a positive message from the production company, but in terms of execution it shows all the limitations of the cast and crew behind it.

It is nevertheless a bold venture in it's scope of spelling out a genuine emphasis on the morals of unity and hope by weaving the different issues and obstacles depicted in the story into one cohesive whole that might take audiences a long time to be endeared to, on the same level as the previous films from Karan Johar.

The movie is in many ways similar to the main character, who can apparently learn to fix anything. He is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. And as such, is the movie. There is too much scope on covering all the different issues, and not enough emphasis on a coherent narrative with steady characters.

There is none of the fun factor of the 90's Dharma movies. The music here is dry and dull, possibly to infer a sense of the austerity of the faith of the main character.

Overall, a movie not to be missed because the story here makes it unmissable. And that's a line which is too cheesy even for this movie.

MY NAME IS KHAN is a rather long journey of a film - almost as long the journey depicted in the movie. At three hours in length it may lose some viewers, but for those who stay until the end, the message is larger than life and very important. Especially now, as the world grapples with multiple wars based on differences of beliefs under the flag of 'religion'. As written by Shibani Bathija and Nirajan Iyengar this is a tale of growing to understand and embrace tolerance on many levels. The main character, Khan, in many ways represents Everyman - a human being, imperfect in the eyes of the world because he has Asperger's Syndrome, who discovers the meaning of love and the importance of tolerance so necessary if this world is to stay intact.

We first meet Rizwan Khan, an outsider because of his variations from normal due to his Asperger's Syndrome, living with his Muslim mother Razia (Zarina Wahab) and younger brother Zakir: Zakir is gifted and at age 18 leaves Mumbai to move to San Francisco for a new beginning. When Razia dies she makes Khan promise her that he will make a good life - that there are no differences in people except good and bad. Khan (Shahrukh Khan) moves to San Francisco, coping with his disabilities as best he can, finds work with in a cosmetic firm selling lotions and potions for his brother Zakir (Jimmy Shergill). One of the reasons Khan is successful as a salesman is his utter honesty, and this trait finds an admirer in cosmetologist Mendira (Kajol) who eventually, through a courtship that is as special as any ever filmed, agrees to marry Khan. Zakir condemns the marriage (Mendira is Hindu, Khan Muslim) and will not accept the couple in his and his wife Hasina's (Sonya Jehan) home. Mendira has a young son from a former marriage and that son finds friendship that eventually betrays him: the world of the Bay Area is sick with the aftermath of 9/11 and all Muslims are suspect and disrespected. When Mendira's son is brutally beaten to death, the Hindu Mendira blames herself for marrying a Muslim Khan, and tells his to leave, that the only way she will ever see him again is after he has met with the President of the US to say 'My name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist.'

Mendira stays in her home struggling with the fact that her son's murderers cannot be found. Khan sets out to travel across the country, attempting to meet the President and deliver his message so that Mendira will take him back. His journey is an examination of human kindness - he is supported by an African American Georgia family Mama Jenny (Jennifer Echols) when he helps her son, and in turn when a hurricane destroys Mama Jenny's home, Khan returns to help her rebuild, an act that is televised and encourages many Muslims (including Zakir and Hasina) to offer help in the catastrophe. There are many other sidebar stories that occur during Khan's mission to greet the President, each an example of how important communication and equality is life we are to dwell on one planet. Yes, the ending is somewhat saccharine, but the eyes won't likely remain dry as the credits roll.

Sharukh Khan is extraordinary as Khan and the supporting cast is very strong, especially the beautiful and talented Kajol. Though there are flaws present, the overriding effect of the story diminishes them to the point of being inconsequential. This is a very beautiful film, one that do well being viewed by every one on the earth!

Grady Harp

This is a great three hour movie and every minute of it is a gem, so be prepared for an emotional roller-coaster. An Indian film taken and set in America but more Hollywood than bollywood but nonetheless this is a truly International film and you will definitely enjoy it and want to watch it again.

It really does entertain, there is comedy and drama, melodramatic in excess at times, like with the church scene in Wilhemina with mama jenny, but who cares, the film is a movie not a documentary.

reminds me very slightly of Tom Hanks situation in Terminal but more so with the Kite Runner than Slumdog Millionaire and of course Rain Man with the Autism factor.

Confused about the timeline because 11 September happened of course in 2001 but the story appears set in 2007. And who was the funeral for which the two boys, Samier and white boy. Did something happen to the other boys Father which triggered the conversation and unease between the two Mothers? Mystified why Shahrukh Khan, who was the main character of the movie, is not shown in the film credits by IMDb? others have made comment about this.

A really wonderful film which should not be missed. Don't be put off because it is an Indian film, this is much better than Slumdog and much more worthy of Oscar nomination which it has missed.

More films like this please! Less political overtone perhaps but never mind the melodrama, have the tissues at the ready!