MEETING MR. KHAN

MY NAME IS KHAN

Good people do good deeds; bad people do bad deeds. There is no other difference.

This movie was mentioned to me by a Korean friend who perhaps has a taste for anything Indian. This is the fifth Bollywood movie I have watched so far after Slumdog Millionaire, Three Idiots, Mangal Pandey and Jodhaa Akbar. Gandhi (played by Ben Kingsley) is not Bollywood I suppose.

My Name is Khan is a movie about Rizvan Khan (Shahrukh Khan), a Muslim Indian with Asperger’s syndrome who wishes to meet the president of the United States.  As someone with developmental disorder, he wrote what he could not tell with words and writing he did best (other than repairing anything from automobiles to appliances). He wrote about his life in Mumbai and America and he narrated his adventures to meet the president to bring a message. At some points, his failed attempts to meet the president got the American authority and security groups of thinking he was a terrorist. All of these he did to make a happy life for himself.

His life in India was difficult where even Zakir (Jimmy Shergill), his brother did not understand his situation. Their mother (Ammi) loved them both and because of Rizvan’s unusual yet extraordinary behaviour, she enrolled Rizvan to an accomplished teacher. Zakir misjudged the love and attention given to Rizvan until the former went to San Francisco and had a thriving cosmetics business there. With nobody to take care of Rizvan after their mother died of cardiomyopathy, Zakir petitioned his brother to the US. Zakir’s wife, Hasina (Sonya Jehar), was a psychology teacher who determined Rizvan’s hate of the colour yellow, fear of new places and new people, and sensitivity to sharp sounds were symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome. She introduced his brother-in-law to the Autistic Society and they trained him to market herbal products for his brother’s company.

Promoting and selling the products gave Rizvan the good fortune to meet Mandira (Kajor), a hairdresser who worked for a saloon in San Francisco. Mandira increased his heartbeat and he fell head over heels with her.  She is a divorced Hindu and a mother to Sameer. The three had a wonderful relationship and Mandira and Razvin agreed to get married where both Mandira and Sameer took Rizvan’s family name. At first, Zakir did not assent to their marriage but they still did and they moved to a place called  Banville where Mandira had her own saloon.

Everything was well until the terrorist attacked and destroyed the World Trade Center in New York. This event changed the course of the daily lives of the Muslims including the Khans. Prejudicial and stereotypical minds of some Americans and white people against the Muslims did not even spare the life of Sameer leading to his death. His death was not given immediate justice and was believed to have been a product of a racist attack. Reese, an American and Sameer’s best friend did know that it was not a racist attack but bullies who had killed the latter.

Mandira believed her relationship with Rizvan caused Sameer’s death and blamed his religion and last name. She ordered Rizvan to go and leave and he instinctively asked when he could return. Her anger and hatred gave him a sardonic answer - When he could tell the people of America and the American president that he, a Muslim, was not a terrorist.

His journey to meet the president brought him to places where he met people who looked down on him because of his behaviour, colour and belief. But this journey also endeared him to some and he touched their lives as they touched his. Because of his persistent desire to meet the head of state, he was purported to be a member of an international terrorist network and imprisoned without any evidence or legal representation. He was helped by a therapist who believed he was innocent. Evidence of his non-involvement with terrorism and his previous report to the FBI on Dr. Rahman’s violent plans, surfaced and his publicized detainment and discharge inspired the minorities and the whole nation which also later changed Mandira’s hateful heart. His release was celebrated and he helped victims of a hurricane in Georgia.  Reese confessed who killed her son. Alas, when Rizvan was about to meet Mandira, he was stabbed by one of Dr. Rahman’s supporters. It happened when America had its historic first Black American proclaimed as president. He did not die but the former president ended his term and Rizvan was not able to meet and talk to him.

His name is Rizvan Khan. ‘Khan’ pronounced from the epiglottis. He wanted to know how to kill time and he offered a hug for his mother to feel peace. He believed cell phones could kill bees and he knows things like he was an encyclopaedia. He feared nothing more than the thought of losing his love. He considered families are not just made by blood but with love too. He prayed as he believed, and he believed as he prayed. He did not judge. He sang We Shall Overcome. He took the first steps for the long journey to change. He loved.

He was able to talk the new president albeit impossible and almost hopeless. And yes, he was able to relay his message. That he was not a terrorist ..........................................and that John Marshall said “Howdy”. 

The movie reminded me of movies like I am Sam, Forest Gump, and Rain Man and I recognize the filmmakers' effort in infusing historical accounts and substance of modern tales of love. It enlightened me to appreciate religious and culture differences wherein one could and should live harmoniously with another no matter what our differences are. The musical score and soundtrack reminds me of Mangal Pandey: The Rising (Tere Naina and Mangal Mangal Agni). The actors are commendable and impressive. Shahrukh Khan I must say delivered a flawless portrayal of a differently abled individual albeit I must say I haven’t really observed much how people with Asperger’s syndrome act. He was at times effortlessly funny and I love the scenes with her Ammi and Mama Jenny before the hurricane. Kajor (who by the way reminds me of Priscilla Meirelles and Larissa Ramos) also gave a stellar performance especially that scene when Sameer died. I have learned that bhabi in Indian Urdu means sister-in-law. Bhabi sounds like my name.

This movie gave me more interest in study in autism and education in autistic children. Watching the movie reminded me of the challenges for parents and families raising a child with autism. It is an issue and topic in our country today which is not given full diagnosis, research and support. It is my hope that autism and related disorders will be given more interest and understanding and more funding from the government in order to meet and provide the needs of children and people with autism. I hope we do good deeds from now on.