I came across this article on yahoo! By Ayesha Khan, Assistant Editor, The Indian Express, Ahmedabad.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100213/1241/top-my-name-is-khan-this-movie-isn-t-for.html
Of course the title of the news line was noteworthy as it was probably the only one with a negative edge towards the movie which otherwise everybody else was praising for more reasons than one. Initially as I started reading it, it kind of looked like a review and I started to perceive the article as an individual’s like or dislike which is absolutely acceptable and normal.
But then suddenly this line came: “So, I debate: should I now watch My Name is Khan, with its catchy tagline: "My name is Khan and I am not a Terrorist". The tagline hurts. It insults.” Now with this, it became clear that the person is yet to see the movie. It became all the more stranger for me to comprehend at that time why the writer says the movie is not for him(her as we find out later… i always imagine guys doing such stuffs) without watching it!!!
To know the reason I proceeded ahead. Now the article started seeming more like an attempt to showdown the Building President than reflecting any views on the movie. I mean with due respect to the writer, I don’t understand one thing… WHY DID SHE HAVE TO USE SUCH SENTIMENTS?
She herself at the end says that though she does all those things done by an average Indian citizen, she has to incidentally prove herself more than any other average Indian citizen… Now for anyone who has seen the movie, he would agree with me that if the real problem was her having to prove herself, then the movie is all the more inspiring for her than hurting!!!
She says that the tagline hurts but why should it hurt? Is there a racist remark in it? Is there any abuse to the religion? Without understanding the essence of the tag line I personally don’t think it was appropriate for her to publicize her views. If she had personal sentiments then she should have written these things on her Blog. Yes I admit that there is a need for the awareness against the likes of the Building President and such elements need to be defaced but my question is, How right is it to raise that issue in the backdrop of the movie?
I have seen the movie 5 times by now(though it was purely for SRK’s performance) and every time I see it, one thing that strikes my mind is the reality portrayed in the movie. I’m by no means trying to justify the negative attitude of the west(or for that matter people of India as well) against Islam. I respect Islam as much as I respect my own religion. And hence as an observer I feel that the world needs to change their view towards the Islam as well. I have many muslim friends and I respect and love them a lot.
But I often see people looking at Muslims with suspicion in their eyes. The element of doubt covering their minds and clouding their perception of Islam. I often hear people say things about Islam that my muslim friends wouldn’t want to hear. I can understand what would be going through your mind right now if u are a muslim. Trust me these things hurt me as much as they hurt you and hence my direct request to Ms. Ayesha Khan and all those who have sentiments towards the tagline of the movie is that don’t perceive the statement “My name is Khan and I’m not a terrorist” as Tagline of the movie, it is in reality the Punch line of the movie(You should see the timing and the manner in which the dialogue features in the movie for the first time to believe what I’m saying). There are instances in the movie where the teachings of Islam are embossed that leave people awestruck.
Think from Khan’s point of view…Shah Rukh Khan… you think he wouldn’t have felt the sentiments that you people are going through? But he took it as a challenge or rather a responsibility to take this message to the world that the words Khan and Terrorist are not co-related. And I suppose we must support him for the cause. I’m not telling this as a SRK fan but I’m telling this as a Hindu who feels Islam deserves a better treatment, a higher respect and a social acceptance without stigma. (Don’t care if VHP or Shiv Sena or Bajrang Dal or any Tom Dick and Harry harass me for a statement like this!)
Awakening is always in an instance. Awakening always happens in a moment. Just one idea, one thought, one insight, one revelation, one existential intervention, one experience, one incident, one accident, one moment of epiphany...That is all is required.
Just one moment will do. And I feel this movie has many moments to spark a new positive attitude towards Islam in people’s mind. Remember, that morning she was a schoolteacher. That afternoon she was a schoolteacher. When she saw a man dying on the streets of Calutta, she was still a schoolteacher. When she saw that man die for want of medical assistance she was still a schoolteacher. The man died. In that moment it all happened. A Mother Teresa was born. That morning he was only a barrister. While entering the train he was still a barrister. While he was thrown out of the railway compartment, he was still a barrister. On the platform when he was down with the feeling of humiliation, in that very moment it all happened. A Mahatma Gandhi was born. Responsibility comes from responding with ability. Let us help a cause to give Islam the respect it deserves. And let us spread this message to the world that there are more Rizwan Khans in Islam than Faisal Rehmans(Character in the movie, no reference intended). Let the world know Khan is not Terrorist.
