Are Indians in Tune with Their Culture? My Name Is Khan Falls Short Of

March 2010 ........Books ........ ........Movie Review ........ NRI PULSE 15 Are Indians In Tune With My Name is Khan Falls Their Culture? Short Of Expectations BY MADHUSREE CHATTERJEE ism. This is the purpose of the book,” Varma said. BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE sweet moments between Kajol and Shah Rukh, The book looks at India’s cultural journey be it the way he proposes or she accepts. The time has come for Indians to introspect through the writer’s own itinerary as a bureau- The movie needs no formal introductions. However there is a sense of forced chemistry whether they are in tune with their culture or not, crat and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. It Karan Johar has shifted gears and is focused on between the two rather than a natural progression. \”to pause and put a mirror before society to see begins with Varma’s vision of exile - his grow- producing and directing more serious cinema and Zarina Wahab returns to the big screen after a why dilution, mutilation and modification of cul- ing up years in Delhi to his relocation to Lon- ‘My Name is Khan’ (MNIK) is an honest and while and delivers her best. Jimmy Shergill and ture have taken place against the backdrop of such don with his family in the first chapter, heartfelt effort in that direction. In fact the sincere Sonya Jehan are natural. Sumeet Raghavan, a distinguished civilization heritage\”, says diplo- “Choosing Exile,” followed by the “The Im- intentions of the movie almost cover up the Navneet Nishan, Vinay Pathak in their short mat-writer Pavan Varma. perishable Empire” in which he clumsy climax (flood in Georgia) and rather appearances give their best. Varma, former director-general analyses the East India Karan Johar is of the Indian Council for Cultural Company’s role in the country. comfortable through the some Relations (ICCR), was in the capi- “Colonial Amnesia: The Tale parts of the movie, but falters tal to promote his new book, “Be- of Two Cities”, “Creativity and towards the second half. Karan coming Indian: The Unfinished Distortion”, “The Empire At Your has an inherent, almost Revolution of Culture and Identity” Threshold”, “Within the Global compulsive need to please the (Allen Lane/Penguin; Price Rs. Village: Asymmetry and Co-op- masses. 499)), which was released in the tion” probe the colonial high, hang- And this proves be his Indian capital. over and the gradual assimilation strength in the first half of the “My book investigates how of the Indian urban educated so- movie which deals with those who are culturally rootless cieties into a new global order. romance but also works against and India’s educated classes will be “Therefore, the book is a rig- him in the latter half when the co-opted in a globalized world orous analysis of colonization and story shifts over to political where the victims are usually the consequences in the cultural and mode. Karan even wants his last to know,” Varma, who is cur- intellectual space - and then the characters to be happily settled rently India’s ambassa- enumeration of its in before they face adversities, dor to Bhutan, told impact in areas of so Kajol, a woman running a IANS in an interview. language, creative ex- hair salon is able to afford a “We are not perience, music, comfortable home in a San merely a nation but a films and architec- Francisco suburb. civilization with a ture,” Varma said. unrealistic sequences (a man with Asperger’s Writer Shibani Bhatija tries hard to elevate legacy of 5,000 years - It took the vet- Syndrome and hardly any money traveling cross Rizwan’s innocent character to celebrity status one that represents eran career diplomat country). Well, almost. The movie however has a and that results in unrealistic situations and great ambiguity, conti- four years to write message and delivers it successfully, thanks to sequences created with undue cinematic nuity, peaks of refine- the book. Shah Rukh Khan, the actor and not the superstar. liberties such as Rizwan managing to get a ment and plurality, The writer said: Rizwan Khan (Tanay Chheda plays young hateful Muslim doctor arrested by the FBI or along with a huge sense “We need to be con- Shah Rukh Khan) is intelligent and a very practical save folks of a flood hit village in Georgia. The of underlying unity. cerned about our cul- young boy. He manages to drain water with a climax and sequences leading to it seem rather But such a civilization tures.” bicycle and some bottles but he is different. He rushed. is always at the risk of “Our threshold has Asperger’s Syndrome that causes him to shy The special effects of the flood scene are mediocrity, mimicry, cultural rootlessness and to- of satisfaction is unacceptably low. At the slight- away from hugs or touching of any kind, an amateurish, at best and quite embarrassing for a kenisms - particularly where the educated middle est praise from the West, there is euphoria and aversion to loud noises, the color yellow and such. Dharma production banner. Editing by Deepa classes are concerned,” Varma said. any criticism evokes extreme indignation. If you His ammi (Zarina Wahab), amidst the 1983 riots Bhatia, moving the story in flashback and “In doing so, we must analyze that the im- see the condition of our classical music and dance teaches Rizwan that the only way to differentiate cinematography by Ravi K Chandra deserve portance of colonialism is not just physical subju- - they are pathetic. Even the best of dancers can- between people is to classify them as either good special mention as they conjure some memorable not fill a hall when the ticket is free. or bad. Rizwan carries the message with him even scenarios and wonderful images. Shankar-Ehsaan- “We are not merely a nation but a civi- “Nearly 70 percent of Bollywood movies after she dies. He moves to the US with his brother Loy’s music is melodious and carries the movie are lifted from Hollywood and Gyanpeeth win- Zakir Khan (Jimmy Shergill) and sister-in-law lization with a legacy of 5,000 years - forward with no lip synching. ‘Sajda’, ‘Tere Naina’ ners cannot sell more than 100 copies of their (Sonya Jehan) where he is appointed to sell and ‘Noor-e-Khuda’ are soulful. one that represents great ambiguity, books. In any area of creative expression, there is beauty products. On his job, he meets Mandira The movie does have some powerful one continuity, peaks of refinement and shabbiness,” he said. (Kajol), falls in love and asks her to marry him at liners by Niranjan Iyengar and Shibani Bathija. plurality, along with a huge sense of “Photocopies cannot sit at the high table. the oddest of times. Mandira, a Hindu single mom When Rizwan is refused entry for not being underlying unity. But such a civiliza- You have to be original and rooted to the milieu with a son, Sam (Yuvaan Makaar) welcomes Khan Christian to a Christian fund raiser attended you belong to. Photocopies are like caricatures into her life with open arms and even changes the by the President, he leaves a 500 $ behind telling tion is always at the risk of mediocrity, and those who carry the legacies of great civili- last name of her son to Khan. Post 9/11 her her “This is for those who are not Christians in mimicry, cultural rootlessness and to- zations like India cannot become caricatures,” decision to change her son’s last name results in a Africa” kenisms - particularly where the edu- he said. tragedy that leaves Rizwan on his own. Rizwan The movie is not without faults, and some cated middle classes are concerned,” The writer recommended a change in school embarks on a journey to win back his love. His glaring ones at that. However, there is an earnest language modules. mission is to meet the President of the United effort to convey a humanitarian message that the “Education till Class 6 should be in one’s States and deliver the message, “My name is Khan only way to distinguish people is by their actions, gation but also about colonization of the mind. mother tongue and in another language. It will help and I am not a terrorist” good or bad. While its consequences in terms of politics and a child get a firm ground in culture. Recent re- Step aside Raj, Rahul, Rizwan is here. Shah The simplicity of thought unfortunately economics have been analyzed, a cultural audit searches show that those who become adept in Rukh clearly steals the show. Rizwan triumphs never trickles down to its execution. MNIK does of its colonized legacies in compromising the their own mother tongue pick up foreign languages in conveying the message of humanity through carry one of Shah Rukh’s most restrained authentic cultural space of Indians has never been faster,” he said. his odyssey. This is one of Shah Rukh’s most performances. It is Kha Kha (from the done. Varma is now working on his first work of endearing performances to date. Kajol’s Mandira epiglottis) Khan’s show all the way. If you are a “So the great unfinished revolution of India fiction - a novel. does not have a lot of meat to bite into, and she Shah Rukh fan, MNIK is a must watch, however is to re-appropriate the cultural space in authentic “After 20 years of writing non-fiction, I have gets through the movie either being completely the movie itself falls short of its own and our terms calmly, without xenophobia and chauvin- a powerful story to tell,” he said.

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