Samuel Benoit

A long time ago, the first time an Indian in India started to look around and find that many of his or her friends and loved ones were all of a sudden somewhere else, India was facing a decision.  How are we supposed to feel about all of our countrymen who are choosing to live in other countries, man?  Are we going disown them for abandoning us?  Thank them for freeing up some space?  What makes it more complicated, so many of these Indians are leaving for richer countries to end up accomplishing really cool things like launching spaceships and playing rock music.  What India eventually chose to do was suck it up and embrace them under the title of non-resident Indian (or NRI).  It says: “sure you left for more opportunity and less public spitting, but you’re still one of us!  Your kids too!  One of us!  One of us!”

The phenomenon of Indians living abroad has become such a huge part of the cultural landscape that is has been featured in many Bollywood films.  The first in this sub-genre that I ever saw was the 2008 thriller Race in which nearly everyone in Durban, South Africa can speak Hindi.  My Name is Khan, on the other hand, takes place all over the United States with everyone speaking either Hindi or very clear and awkward English.

Released earlier this year, My Name is Khan is the highest grossing Indian film outside of India of all time and the ninth within India.  Super-ultra-megastar Shahrukh Khan stars as Rizwan Khan, a Muslim NRI with Asperger’s syndrome who has the same last name as he does in real life.  He falls in love with a Hindu single mother played by the amazing Kajol, making it their fifth movie pairing.  When they are swept up in the wave of Islamophobia that swept over the US in the wake of 9/11, Khan (Khan) sets off on Forrest Gumpesqe road trip across the country to later save it from terroism, racism and hurricanes.

If that sounds a little over the top, that’s only because it is.  But this is Bollywood people, we didn’t come here for gritty realism and understated performances – we came for the cheesy romance and good music, right?  Really, if you can just remind yourself of all that as you are watching this one, you will probably have a great time.  It carries with it some strong messages on the unity of religion and race, the power of love and how Islam is cool.  I recommend it as the Americanest Indian film ever with 3.5 stars.

Here is the English language trailer: