My Name Is Khan is about Rizwan Khan who suffers from Asperger syndrome, he doesn't know he is different all through his childhood because of the unconditional love showered on him by his mother.
It's his mother's dream that he settle down in America happily like his sibling and Rizwan embarks on a journey to America. The beauty of the film is that it focuses on various subjects that is deftly interspersed, one a childhood lesson that there are no Hindus, Muslims and Christians in this world, there are only two kinds of people, the good and bad. The lesson has been taught by his mother in a very simple, straight manner that any small child can comprehend. Also that relationships are formed not by blood but by love, finally all muslims are not terrorists.
Rizwan Khan is proud of being a Muslim but he doesn't flaunt it at the same time he does not shy away from following the traditions set by the religion. He marries Mandira Rathod and she lovingly changes the last name of her son's and hers to Khan. After 9/11, life takes a dramatic turn, Muslims in America are viewed and treated with suspicion and the first victim is Mandira's son. She believes her son would have been alive if she wouldn't have married Khan and disowns him. When he wants to know when he can return, she replies only after telling the President of America that he is Khan and he is not a terrorist. The rest of the drama is about how Khan keeps his promise and Mandira gets justice for his son. Kajol excels as a mother, the scene in which she loses her son and then weeps on his body shows her skill for switching emotions with ease.
If we haven't seen a person who suffers from asperger's syndrome behaves, then watch Shah Rukh maintain a steady and stable behaviour throughout the film, as to how he constantly repeats his words, doesn't look straight in the eye and how he shrugs violent, loud behaviour and some colour. The film has everything positive, mother-son relationship, wife-husband, father-son and last but not the least the value of friendship.Rizwan Khan is befriended by an African family, they feed him when he is hungry and he stands by them when they need him the most. The film is not entirely realistic, the director has taken cinematic liberties, it becomes clichéd towards the end and also drags. An entire story has been built around a single point and lest it might not hold the film together, the director makes the hero suffer a disability so that the sympathy remains whatsoever.
There is subtle humour in the film, again it is carried by SRK on his shoulders. Watch Shah Rukh tell Kajol who's busy in a kitchen with an absolute poker face if he can have sex.The film also preaches the tenets of Islam that part of a Muslim's earnings should go to charity and that charity need not go necessary to people who are non-Muslim.
He shows that being a Muslim, he had made efforts to inform FBI that a group of Muslims were plotting an attack and before any American can rush help to hurricane hit area, it is Khan who was imprisoned for suspected terror activity, sets an example by rescuing the victims. All is fine, but Shah Rukh should first make a movie for his fellow Mumbaikars and then preach Americans that all Khans are not terrorists and he is loyal and patriotic as any Indian is and it hurts being labeled. A not over the top film but definitely makes a good watch.
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