Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Monday, 8 February 2010
Scroll down for movie reviews.....
Hindi films: Bangali films:
1} My name is Khan 1} Abohomann
4} 3 Idiots 4} Thana Theke Aschi
5} Ajab Prem ki Ghazab Kahani 5} Clerk, Will be available soon.......
6} Paa 6} Teen Murthi, Will be available soon......
Any songs that you want are not available???? Just Leave in your comment and check after two days.... I will surely try and arrange those songs for you, specially for you.......................
Do you have any movie songs(not available here), and want to share them with rest of the viewers of this blog???? Just Leve in your comment............... I shall surely try to contatct you for those numbers, and then post them in my blog.............
You may also contribute movie reviews too!!! I would be a lot grateful for your contributions...........
Disclaimer: Non of the above materials are uploaded by me in any way... Everything was found on net freely. So if you need to bring these down, contact the respective site owners.. Thank you...
Disclaimer: Non of the above materials are uploaded by me in any way... Everything was found on net freely. So if you need to bring these down, contact the respective site owners.. Thank you...
Sunday, 7 February 2010
The Japanese wife...
April 8 (Calcutta Tube): THE JAPANESEWIFE by Aparna Sen film Review: A huge carton covered with colored labels arrives on a boat along the Matla River to avillage in the Sundarbans. It is then piled on to a hand-pushed wooden van and carted to a house in the village, chased by a gang of curious village kids. What does this carton contain? More importantly, who is it addressed to and who has it been sent to? The camera pans on the face of a bespectacled man with slightly white-streaked hair, the one the carton is addressed to. This is Snehamoy, and the gift is from his Japanese wife Miyagi sent in celebration of their 15th wedding anniversary. Snehamoy and Miyagi have never seen each other. Their means of communication is through letters penned with the help of a dictionary on either side as both husband and wife are very weak in English. The letters are voice-overs, the voices soft and child-like, the content as naïve and as innocent as the people who pen them. Snehamoy and Miyagi exchange 637 letters over 17 years of marriage, slowly seeping into Snehamoy’s life, family and room in other ways – a Japanese lamp, a wall-hanging, a transparent dry-flower arrangement, a collage of Miyagi’s photographs arranged under the glass top of Snehamoy’s table and those longish envelopes that arrive regularly. The carton of kites recurs inthe film, like an ode to the most unusual love story one ever imagined.
Chigusa Takaku THE JAPANESE WIFEThe Japanese Wife is a tribute to man-woman relationships mapped out over a landscape distanced from all accepted and recognised notions of love and marriage. It also celebrates the lost art of letter-writing by raising it to a level of unparalleled beauty in redefining relationships. It describes a marriage where rituals are self-styled – the husband sends the bride a pair of white conch-shell bangles and the bride sends him a silver ring.Aparna Sen’s film, a celluloid adaptation of Kunal Basu’s short story, sweeps across the Matla River, scanning Snehamoy and his slowly growing family comprised of his Mashi, who brought him up, and later, Sandhya, Mashi’s friend’s daughter who is offered shelter along with her son by Mashi when she is widowed. This small boy is a catharsis in Snehamoy’s quiet, introvert, timid and diffident life, filled with the joy of writing and receiving letters to and from Miyagi, his Japanese wife. The other relationships that dot his life are as indefinable in ordinary terms as is his relationship with Miyagi. Mashi is not his mother but loves him as much as his mother would have, had she lived. Sandhya is not related to him by either blood or friendship. Yet, she grows on him, slowly and silently, her unobtrusive presence sometimes casting a shadow on his unconsummated marriage to Miyagi. Sandhya’s cheerful little son brings him tidings from his Japanese Kakima. He pushes Snehamoy into the beautifully orchestrated kite competition. The contest becomes a war of prestige between India and Japan for the villagers but for Snehamoy, it is an insight into a world of joy and fun he has never experienced before. The huge Japanese kites in all colours and shapes with strange faces painted on them, humble the coloured Indian squares of colour, simple and small, dotting the azure blue sky with splashes of colour.The Japanese Wife is Aparna Sen’s most visually rich film till date. The colourful threads ofmanja criss-crossing Snehamoy’s home and compound strike a vivid contrast with the changing colours of the Matla River that separates the village from its nearest town Gosaba. The river is an important character. It is the only point of contact for the villagers with the rest of the world. It takes the villagers to Gosaba that has a crowded market place, corner shops, telephone booths, and practicing doctors. It is the only source that brings and sends the letters that bind Snehamoy to his wife. It offers shelter to boats tied to the shore that Snehamoy seeks when he is sad or filled with unfulfilled sexual desires. But when the weather changes, it changes colour, character and mood, turning violent against the very people it helps at other times. When flood strikes and the night sky heralds fear and terror with its jagged lines of lightning, the river’s anger severs every line of communication, including the lifeline to the outer world – the ferry service, destroying Snehamoy’s hopes of hearing again from the very sick Miyagi, or, getting the right medication when, drenched to the skin in torrential rain and caught in a night of flood, Snehamoy catches pneumonia.Miyagi arrives in a boat to the village across the river. Black circles surround her eyes because she is terminally ill. She is draped in a pristine white sari and blouse, as Snehamoy had told her in one of his letters that Bengali widows wear white when their husbands die. But he had forgotten to add that they take their white conch shell bangles off too. So, she still wears the conch shell bangles on her wrists. Sen keeps the three deaths – the death of Haiku, Miyagi’s pet pup, the death of her ailing mother and Snehamoy’s tragic death away from the visual frame making the tragedy all that more palpable and moving. The credit for the visual richness of the film goes to cinematographerAnoy Goswami and also to art director Gautam Basu. Sagar Desai’s background score, sometimes as if floating in from a distance complements the mood of the film.
The Japanese WifeRahul Bose gives his career-best performance as Snehamoy. He slowly grows from a diffident and extremely shy young man to a mature, somewhat responsible husband and ‘family’ man who grows fond of Sandhya’s little boy and is intrigued by the quiet presence of Sandhya in his life. His English pronunciation with its heavy Bengali accent – the ‘f’ pronounced as ‘ph’ – is grounded in reality. Moushumi Chatterjee as his Mashi puts on a heavydokhno accent and her talkativeness stands in sharp contrast with the quiet silence of Sandhya and Snehamoy. Moushumi is wonderful in a character crafted against her grain. Raima speaks with her eyes, with tiny gestures, with her body and gait and has little to do with speech. She is stripped of glamour and this makes her beauty more eloquent. Chigusa Takaku in her maiden performance as Miyagi is tender and soft as she grows from a teenager of 18 to a woman of 35 wracked by cancer. She lisps rather than speaks. Her face is captured mainly in mid close-ups, mid-shots and long shots, lending a touch of the unreal to the character. The brief cameos – the Ayurvedic doctor who insists on feeling the pulse of his patient, the homeopathic doctor, the shopkeeper who gives away kites for free, the young boy whose pride is humbled in the kite fight, the oncologist who is surprised when Snehamoy walks out of his chamber, are fleshed out as if from real life.The Japanese Wife is a film that grows on you slowly, much after the film is over. I would give it a rating of eight on ten. The two I take away is for a film based purely on an absurd premise – a ‘marriage’ that crosses all conventions of the social institution, and one in which the married couple remain distanced till one of them passes on. The Japanese Wife, all said and done, is poetry on celluloid.
Chigusa Takaku THE JAPANESE WIFE
The Japanese Wife
Introducing Saawariya:
After classics like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and Black, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is back with a love story titled Saawariya, starring two star kids, Rishi Kapoor – Neetu Singh’s son Ranbir Kapoor and Anil Kapoor’s daughter Sonam Kapoor. The curiousity and hype surrounding Saawariya is high. So does it live upto the expectations?Saawariya Story:
A prostitute Gulabji (Rani Mukherjee) introduces the story to us as some fairy tale that once occurred some where in a far away land that looks mystical. Raj (Ranbir Kapoor) is a charming young man who has noone and no place to live. He is a lead singer of RK club and by his words and songs spreads happiness anywhere and everywhere he goes. One night he comes across a young beauty Sakina (Sonam Kapoor) and falls head on heels in love with her. On the second night of their friendship he decides to let her know of his love for her but instead comes to know of her love for Imaan (Salman Khan) who has deserted her with a promise to return back in an years time exactly on the day of Id. With just two days left for Id will Raj be able to win the heart of his lady love? Will Sakina forget the love of her life and agree to Raj’s proposal? Will Imaan return or will the wait continue?
Saawariya Review:
Saawariya is a bore and fails to entertain. Having seen Bhansali’s earlier movies like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and Black my expectations from the master director was high, but with Saawariya he disappoints for the first time. A wafer thin story line is dragged with too many songs. Basically the story in itself is dull and with a sluggish pace it makes it even harder to sit through. Under Bhansali’s direction Saawariya would be the first movie which leaves you puzzled. You are left with so many questions lingering in your mind, with answers to none.- What did Sakina see in Imaan to fall in love with him? She knows nothing about him except for his name then on what basis does she wait for him? Also when did they even have the time to bond so much that she considers him the love of her life? Hardly any communication, how could it lead to romance?
- Imaan is a mystery. Why does he come and why does he leave? What is his profession? Nothing is known.
- If Gulabji loves Raj, why did she then get him thrown out of the house and get him beaten when he came to her? What was the reason for her sudden aggression?
- If Sakina thinks admitting Raj as her friend to her relative will lead to problems with her grandmom. Then how does she justify running around and playing with him on the streets and in her house on the day of id?
Saawariya Performance:
Ranbir has the right look, right personality and has great talent. Coming from the legendary Kapoor clan, Ranbir Kapoor delivers a knock out performance. He is the heart and soul of the movie and one just can’t get enough of him. Call it inherited skill or a developed one, this young chap is sure to have a great future. His expressions and dialogue delivery was just first-rate and perfect. He is not just a wonderful actor but a marvelous dancer too. Even if Saawariya fails to make an impact, Ranbir is sure to make a place for himself in your hearts. You can undoubtedly see more of him in the coming years as he carries the Kapoor legacy forward.Sonam Kapoor for a debutant has delivered a decent performance. She has a very infectious smile.
Zohra Segal is just marvelous. She is matchless and has delivered a mind blowing performance.
Rani Mukherjee just as in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag plays the role of prostitute. Unlike Laaga, she is portrayed as a prostitute who’s happy with whatever she is and does. Rani is good. Salman Khan in his very limited role is good too.
Songs of the movie
Teen Murti (2009) Bengali Movie Review
Teen Murti (Three Friends) is a 2009 Bengali movie directed by Raja Sen starring Ranjit Mullick, Dipankar Dey, Manoj Mitra, Paoli Dam and more. The story and music of the film is by Tapan Sinha.
Teen Murti (Three Friends) Bengali Film
Synopsis from Press Kit
Three old retired men, Nabin, Nagen and Naren are the best of friends. Two of them are widowers and the other, childless. Everyday when they go for a morning walk, they discuss a bout a lot of things. One of them Nabin still believes that the elderly people still have a lot to contribute to the society and even to the themselves as they can keep themselves occupied and live life to the fullest as all is not lost. They decide to revive a tea stall which had shut down (owned by Mrinmoy, student of Nabin) and start things on a grand scale. After a month’s operations it is seen that the stall is functioning well with a profit. There are a couple of hiccups along the way, but things are settled soon. Mrinmoy decides to help his cousin in his business and decides to go away, but is prevented from doing so by the three old men. Mrinmoy and Debalina (Nabin’s tenant’s daughter who he is very close to) decide to run a tutorial from Nabin’s house.
Teen Murti Bengali Film Critic’s Review:
Coming up
- Directed by: Raja Sen
- Story and Music Direction: Tapan Sinha
- Cinematography: Rana Dasgupta
- Editing: Arghakamal Mitra
- Background Music: Partha Sengupta
- Producer: R.A. Jalan,Gaurang Jalan,Manav Jalan,Bha
- Cast: Ranjit Mallick, Dipankar Dey, Manoj Mitra, Sabitri Chatterji, Joy Mukherjee, Paoli Dam, Papiya Sen, Chaitali Chakrabarty, Rishi Mukherjee, Subhasish Mukherji, Rupali Mukherjee, Dipak Das.
- Released on: 11th December 2009
Actor : Ranjit Mallick: Character : Nabin, Retired Professor, (main actor)
Actor : Dipankar Dey :Character : Naren, Retired Senior Official of A.G. (main actor)
Actor : Manoj Mitra : Character : Nagen, Retired Station Master of Eastern Railway(main actor)
Actor : Sabitri Chatterji: Character : Namita, Wife of Nagen
Actor : Joy Mukherjee : Character : Mrinmoy, (supporting actor)
Actor : Paoli Dam : Character : Debolina, ( actress)
Actor : Papiya Sen : Character : Debolina’s mother, Nabin’s tenant & student
Actor : Kanchana Moitra : Character : Maid, Nagen & Namita’s housemaid
Actor : Chaitali Chakrabarty : Character : Shyamali, Naren’s daughter in-law
Actor : Rishi Mukherjee: Character : Naren’s son
Actor : Subhasish Mukherji : Character : Ramdulal, Vandal Hooligan
Actor : Rupali Mukherjee: Character : Customer
Actor : Dipak Das: Character : Shanuda, Mrinmoy’s elder brother (Cousin), Rich timber merchant
STORY – SCREENPLAY – MUSIC: Tapan Sinha
SCRIPT, ADDITION & MODIFICAION : Manoj Mitra
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Rana Dasgupta
EDITOR : Arghyakamal Mitra
ART DIRECTOR : Gautam Bose
MAKE – UP: Mohammed Ali
COSTUME DESIGN : Ruma Sengupta
BACKGROUND MUSIC : Partho Sengupta
SOUND DESIGNING & MIXING : Anup Mukhopadhyay
ACCOUNTS: Anjan Sengupta
PRODUCTION MANAGER : Bapi Kanjilal
PUBLIC RELATION : Papia Sen, Kuheli Ghosh, Arup Chatterjee
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR : Badal Halder
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR : Debanik Kundu
PRODUCER : R.A. Jalan, Gaurang Jalan, Manav Jalan, Bharat Jalan
DIRECTION : Raja Sen
Watch the trailer at: http://www.teenmurtithemovie.com/trailers.html
Director’s Cut from Raja Sen:
Teen Murti, a film based on a story/script/music composed by late Shri Tapan Sinha who could not shoot the film himself due to his deteriorating health.
Tapan Sinhas films attracted me ever since my childhood and I take delight to say that in my career of film-making he is a major influence. In each of my film I have also tried to address relevant social issues. May be this too, is an influence of Tapan Sinha.His technique of film-making, particularly his narrative style I have tried to adopt in many of my films.
Teen Murti is a story of three old men who after the retirement collaborate to live the rest of the life meaningfully. How these old men enterprisingly overcome the resistance and obstacles in achieving their goal is truly inspiring. In the long run it so happens that instead of being a burden, they become a source of inspiration and motivation for the younger generation of the society. The theme and content of Teen Murti address the same category of social issues like of which I dealt in my earlier films such as Atmio Swajan and Debipakshya
List of Songs in Teem Murti
- Phul karobi…
- Tumi Daak Diyecho…
- Majhe Majhe…
- Kalo Mey…
Saturday, 6 February 2010
CLERK – AN EXERCISE IN CELLULOID SURREALISM
Clerk is a 2010 Bengali Movie starring Prosenjit. Read the critic’s review of the wonderful Bengali film by Shoma Chatterji.
Clerk Movie Details:
- Story: Subhadro Choudhury and Sarthok Roy Choudhury
- Editors: Shyamal Karmakar and Subhadro Choudhury
- Sound: Tirthankar
- Cinematography: Sirsho Roy
- Music: Raja Narayan Deb
- Art Direction: Tanmoy Chakraborty
- Script, Direction: Subhadro Choudhury
- Cast: Prosenjit Chatterjee, Anindita Bose, Debobroto Chakraborty, Ruma Bondhopadhyay, Chunilal, Sophie, Kalyan Gupta
- Produced by: Nitesh Sharma
- Banner: Bangla Talkies
- Date of release: January 15, 2010
- Rating: 07/10
Prosenjit in Bengali Film Clerk 2010
The world is not devoid of characters like Biplab so the conception is grounded in reality. Nor is the office where Biplab works, or his bored-looking, unambitious colleagues who seek union agitation as a form of escape, exceptions to reality. The Bollywood actresses who make up Biplab’s clandestine social world are real too. So, what is it that is unreal here? Unreal is the world Biplab creates in his very intimate time and space. He lights big candles across his untidy room, rests his drinks on a low centre table, and begins to turn the numbers on the big dial of his antiquated black telephone. He sometimes forgets the difference between the actor he is talking to and the character she has portrayed in a given film. So, he tries to rescue Kareena Kapoor from the brothel she lives in her film Chameli. He talks to Rani Mukherjee walking miles to bring him his lunch, refusing to ride pillion on his bicycle and walking back, refusing to marry him because that will spoil the love they share. When Biplab realises that these stars are not interested, he coldly pulls almost all the posters down and replaces them with a large B & W poster of Aishwarya Rai. He now sits nude and wet in his decrepit bathtub, dripping wet, talking to “Ash” and even proposing marriage. He shops for his wedding. But when he overhears talks of Ash getting married to one Abhishek Bachchan, his dream world comes crashing down forever. He slashes the poster with a small pen-knife. One does not see the slashed poster, only gets to hear the sound. The cat comes on the window sill for its bowl of milk Biplab keeps out everyday. But it is missing. Biplab sets about putting his house in order, probably going away into the country to set up home and perhaps, a new business in selling aquarium fish with the pretty girl next door. But this could also be a part of his new dream world, his new window of escape.
The film winds its way through the narrow bylanes of Biplab’s mindset, lifestyle and social backdrop, through illusion and reality. During this winding and zigzagging journey, the script sheds light on minor characters like the old man who snoozes all day in his aquarium fish shop and hands Biplab his daily newspaper. He has an orphaned niece who keeps spying on Biplab but he does not even throw a glance. His office colleague, the not-so-young widow is steeped in her sea of loneliness, uncertainty and sexual frustration. The middle-aged drunkard Biplab meets every evening at the seedy joint talks into his cell phone with no one at the other end, boasting about giving away his share of the property to others. Late at night, his young daughter comes to fetch him home. The elderly executive who drives to the fish seller first with a prostitute he has picked up, and then with his young wife, does not really belong to the film. His is the only jarring note. The gossipy housewives in the building add some colour to this rather colourless story of the Black Mollys in the fish aquarium and the lonely life of Biplab.
Sirsho Roy is brilliant with his camera, capturing the dark tones of a seamy but real side of the city. With its mobile posters of film stars, near-empty tramcars Biplab commutes to and from office in, the ill-maintained staircase and interiors of the office building, the union meetings where an old man dozes off while standing, Biplab enjoying the luxury of his bathtub, Roy brings to life a city shorn of its glamour and glitz and strobe lights of shopping malls, the high-rises and multiplexes. The darkened room with its candles and lantern throw shadows on the wall posters, lighting them up at strategic points. Roy is helped along the way by Tanmoy Chakraborty’s art direction while Tirthankar’s sound design embellishes the texture of the film by almost becoming a character. The tap-tap of the typewriter in the office, the clambering of footsteps on the staircase, the plop-plop of water in the bathtub, the turning of the numbers on the dial, the ringing of the telephone, the bursting of bombs form an imaginative sound design supported by a very low-key background score. The editing is intentionally structured in collages that is imaginative but difficult to comprehend.
Prosenjit’s magic works again after Dosar, Khela, Shob Choritro Kalponik and Houseful. It is not easy to carry an entire film on solitary shoulders, even for Prosenjit. So, there is one sore point – he works as a typist but he does not know touch-typing! His switch-off, switch-on mode is incredible, zeroing in on his versatility.
Clerk is a very good film. But its pace is very slow. One understands that the pace is in keeping with the hero’s lifestyle and mindset, but the audience tends to get impatient because the storyline is slender. Choudhury has appeared in two small scenes in the film following the styles of directors led by Hitchcock. The only problem with his rich directorial quality is that very few people will watch it and fewer will understand the links between and among the collage he has created with great love and greater care. But then, as he said in the film, he hates Bollywood!
The songs of this movie are not available at this present point of time but you can surely expect it in the near future... I you have them with you and like to share with other visitors of this blog, you can upload the file to any media sharing website like Rapidshare or Media Fire, or some other and then post th elink as a comment to this post...... Awating your response................
The songs of this movie are not available at this present point of time but you can surely expect it in the near future... I you have them with you and like to share with other visitors of this blog, you can upload the file to any media sharing website like Rapidshare or Media Fire, or some other and then post th elink as a comment to this post...... Awating your response................
Thana Theke Aaschi.....
Sharan Dutta is directing a cinematographic remake of the classic Bengali stage play and subsequent movie "Thana Theke Aschi".
Thana Theke Aschi (2010) has a release date of Jan 29, 2010.
Thana Theke Aschi continues the sexual liberation in Bengali cinema with a super-long steamy hot kissing scene between Paoli and Parambrata, with Paoli wearing a towel.
The original 1965 Classic Bangla cinema Thana Theke Aschi was directed by Hiren Nag with music by Timir Baran, and starred Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Madhabi Mukherjee as the lead pair, with Dilip Mukherjee, Chhaya Devi, Kamal Mitra, Anjana Bhowmick and others in supporting roles.In the upcoming Thana Theke Aschi, Paoli Dam and Parambrata Chattopadhyay play the lead pair, with Rudranil Ghosh, Aloknanda Roy, Srabonti, Dulal Lahiri, Sabyasachi Chakraborty and others in supporting roles.
Pauli Dham has created a buzz by playing challengingly hot roles and sex scenes in Bengali movies. However, according to reports, such scenes do not really involve naked exposure of Paoli's body, but are aethetically shot with more of an artistic cinema angle than adult movies.
Italian director Italo Spinelli's upcoming English film "Choli Ke Peeche" (2010) starring Paoli Dam in a tribal woman's role is eagerly awaited. Reportedly Paoli appears topless in the movie. The cast of Choli Ke Pichealso includes Irrfan Khan, Seema Rahmani, Tilottama Shom, Samrat Chakravarti and others.
Laughter… the familiar chink of glasses and crockery… the dazzle of the chandeliers… In a dark, dingy room smeared with grime, Sandhya Mondal is weeping……. Amarnath Mallick, the business magnate and powerful politician is celebrating. So is his socialite wife Sutopa…. over the engagement of their daughter Rinita to the young, rich and ambitious Rajat Dutta… who is the son of another business tycoon known to them…. Sandhya Mondal is encompassed by darkness….fear, dread, shame…..she is lost…she can see nothing but blackness ahead of her…..
Songs of this movie
Laughter… the familiar chink of glasses and crockery… the dazzle of the chandeliers… In a dark, dingy room smeared with grime, Sandhya Mondal is weeping……. Amarnath Mallick, the business magnate and powerful politician is celebrating. So is his socialite wife Sutopa…. over the engagement of their daughter Rinita to the young, rich and ambitious Rajat Dutta… who is the son of another business tycoon known to them…. Sandhya Mondal is encompassed by darkness….fear, dread, shame…..she is lost…she can see nothing but blackness ahead of her…..
The party is over. It was a grand success. The guests have departed. The sparkling jewelry that Rinita has received needs to be put away…….but that can wait. Now that the guests have all gone, the Mallick household will sit down to do a post mortem of the party. Arin, the non-conformist scion of the Mallick family will also sit to discuss the party with his Mom and Dad, Sis and Brother-in-law-to -be……The final flicker of light fades in Panchanantala bustee…..
There is a sharp knock at the door. The Sub-Inspector of Padma Pukur Police Station, Tinkori Haldar enters the fabulous Mallick mansion. The family is stunned. And furious….Who the hell is this Sub-Inspector to barge into the house on this auspicious day? “Forgive my intrusion, but I’ve come to inquire about the suicide of one Sandhya Mondal of the bustee…”
More rage and anger from the family…”What rubbish! How are we, a premier family of Kolkata, connected with the suicide of a slum dweller? We have never heard of any Sandhya Mondal!”
“But Sir,” persists Tinkori Haldar gently but firmly, “I would like you all to see her photograph…” The words strike home. But more strange is the man in front of them, the Sub-Inspector…who is he? How singularly odd he is. How uncanny. How surreal! “Look at the photograph carefully…” he drawls in his professional voice.
The family starts going to pieces. But why? Why the sudden change of manner? Only a minute ago they swore with full confidence that they had never even heard of the woman in the photograph…Then did the confidence spring from ignorance? Did they actually know her? Maybe even share a relationship with her? As the plot thickens, only one thing is clear…. there’s more to it than meets the eye…
Songs of this movie
Theatrical Poster
Gauri Khan
Shibani Bathija
Dialogues:
Shibani Bathija
Niranjan Iyengar
Kajol
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Lyrics:
Niranjan Iyengar
Choreography:
Farah Khan
IndiaEnglish
Plot
The film begins with the child, Rizwan Khan (Tanay Chheda), a Muslim who has Asperger syndrome, growing up with his mother (Zarina Wahab) in the Borivali section of Mumbai.[7][8] Later as an adult (Shahrukh Khan), Rizwan moves to San Francisco and lives with his brother and sister-in-law. While there, he falls in love with Mandira (Kajol). They eventually marry and begin a business.
After the events of 9/11, Rizwan and Mandira begin to face a number of difficulties. Following a tragedy, they separate. In order to win her back, Rizwan embarks on a long journey across the United States.[6]
[edit]Cast
| Actor/Actress | Role |
|---|---|
| Shahrukh Khan | Rizwan Khan |
| Kajol | Mandira |
| Katie A. Keane | Sarah |
| Kenton Duty | Reese Garick |
| Benny Nieves | Detective Garcia |
| Christopher B. Duncan | President Barack Obama |
| Jimmy Shergill | |
| Sonya Jehan | |
| Parvin Dabas | |
| Arjun Mathur | Raj |
| Sugandha Garg | |
| Zarina Wahab | Rizwan's mother |
| Tanay Chheda | Rizwan Khan (as a child) |
| Navneet Nishan | |
| Sheetal Menon | Radha |
| Arjan Aujla | |
| Yuvaan Makar | |
| Jennifer Echols | |
| Adrian Kali Turner | |
| Michael Arnold | Young Reese at 6 |
| Dominic Renda | Mark Garrick |
| S M Zaheer | |
| Arif Zakaria | Faisal Rahman |
| Vinay Pathak | |
| Sumeet Raghavan | [6] |
Themes
In an August 2009 interview, Shah Rukh Khan stated that My Name Is Khan is "not about terrorism, or 9/11. It’s about a relationship between two people, between an individual and the State, and between an individual and the country. In short, there the three important components: love story, Islam and a mild form of autism."[9]
In an earlier July 2009 interview, Khan also noted that the film focuses on themes concerning "the relationship between the Western world and Islam and how that has changed over the past few years." He describes the film as about "the journey of one family and how it changes because of 9/11" and suggests "we touch upon that in a very unbiased and educated way."[10] In another early interview, he also stated that, "it’s not about a disabled man’s fight against disability. It’s a disabled man’s fight against the disability that exists in the world — terrorism, hatred, fighting ... My Name is Khan is also about Islam and the way the world looks at Islam but we are not taking any sides. We are only trying to say that there are only good people and bad people. There are no good Hindus, bad Hindus, good Christians, bad Christians. Either you are a good person or a bad person. Religion is not the criterion, humanity is."[8]
In late 2008, journalist Madhureeta Mukherjee (referring to the post - 2008 Mumbai attacks atmosphere in India) suggested in an interview with Karan Johar that, "My Name Is Khan starts at a time when Hindus and Muslims in India have united like never before." In response, Johar stated: "I think it’s an exceptionally relevant time, as the unity of our nation is of paramount importance, and I am very happy to witness such a movement in front of my eyes. We are all coming together to fight for a common cause – called humanity. Everyone knows that terrorism has no religion and it will never have a religion. As a filmmaker, I believe that I have a social responsibility and I promise to fulfill that."[11]
[edit]Production
[edit]Pre-production and casting
Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol were cast in the lead roles, reuniting them after many years.[12] Kareena Kapoor was also considered for Kajol's role, but Kajol was Johar's first choice.[13] The film faced a temporary setback during late December when actor Aamir Bashir was denied a visa to the United States.[14] He was eventually replaced by Jimmy Shergill as Shahrukh Khan's younger brother.[15] Although Shabana Azmi was originally cast as Shah Rukh Khan's mother[16] she left the production after Shahrukh Khan's shoulder injury delayed the filming schedule.[8][17] She was replaced in the role by c cx Zarina Wahab.[18] Tanay Chheda will portray Shah Rukh Khan's character as a child living in the Borivali section of Mumbai.[19] Chheda was chosen because he resembles Shah Rukh Khan and because he is recognizable to an international audience after portraying "middle Jamal" in Slumdog Millionaire.[7] American actorChristopher B. Duncan was chosen to portray President Barack Obama.[20][21] Duncan is known for his interpretation of Obama on the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[22]
Johar also asked Khan to co-produce the film, as "we were both passionate about the subject, we said why not co-produce the film? We’ve known each other so long ... that this new initiative is just an extension of our emotions. Besides, I can never make a film without Shah Rukh. He is a big part of me and my family. He’s like the older brother I never had. I love SRK as a unit — that includes his wife, children, sister and his in-laws."[23]
[edit]Filming and post-production
Production of the film is taking place in India and the United States. Filming began in Los Angeles during December 2008[8][24] and one of the locations used was UCLA.[25] Johar next continued production in Mumbai during April 2009.[7] During June 2009, production moved to San Francisco[26] and the Bay Area, where they filmed a key scene at the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose.[27]
Johar had difficulties finding a mosque to film in. According to actor Arif Zakaria, "I don't know if Karan tried to get permission in Mumbai. But we were to shoot in a mosque in Los Angeles and hard as Karan tried to convince the authorities that his film would not propagate anti-social values, he was denied permission [...] We finally shot the two-day scene with Shah Rukh Khan on the set of a mosque constructed at The Club in Andheri."[28]
After filming in Los Angeles was completed, Johar stated that, "in all my 11 years as a filmmaker I’ve never felt the experience to be so different. The content of My Name Is Khan is diametrically opposite to whatever I’ve done in the past."[15] He described working with both Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol again as "magic. They build an inexplicable energy on screen." Johar also stated that he was "blown away by Shah Rukh who had done monumental research on his autistic character in the film. I was zapped by how much he knew about the subject."[15]
The production in the United States was handled by Bollywood Hollywood Productions and Line Producer Prashant Shah.[29]
[edit]Release
[edit]Pre-release publicity and distribution
On 7 August 2009, Karan Johar signed a deal for 1 billion INR with Fox Searchlight Pictures, who will market and distribute it in India (FOXSTAR) and worldwide (Fox Searchlight).[4][30]Shah Rukh Khan was later asked in a December 2009 interview if he feels that My Name Is Khan is "a more international film which should be seen by all and will have a far reaching influence." Khan responded that:
- I have never been a strong advocate for global cinema because I don't think our films turn the tide around though my directors and distributors feel otherwise. Having said that, I will add that MNIK is a very special topic about humanity in the garb of a Muslim character [...] The film is made on a large canvas and made larger with Fox coming on board. The subject material is adapted in terms of humanity in a very entertaining way. And with Karan, the best filmmaker in India today directing the film and Fox distributing it -- the message of love, the way it has been shot internationally and the way of releasing it, might have all the possibilities of an international release. It's going to be released in a way no Hindi film has been released internationally before with mega prints and the trailer releasing with Avatar in a first of its kind.[31]
On 1 February, 2010, Khan and Kajol "became the first Indian movie stars to ring the opening bell of the New York stock exchange NASDAQ." They were invited by Fox Searchlight Pictures to do so as part of their promotion for My Name Is Khan.[32]
[edit]High profile screenings
My Name Is Khan will be screened at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2010.[33]
[edit]Soundtrack
The soundtrack is composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. The lyrics are penned by Niranjan Iyengar.[5] The music was released on 07 January 2010 [34].
| My Name Is Khan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Soundtrack by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | |
| Released | January 4, 2010 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Label | Sony Music |
| Professional reviews | |
| |
| Track | Song | Singer(s) | Composer | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Sajda | Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shankar Mahadevan, Richa Sharma | Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | 6:05 |
| 02 | Noor E Khuda | Adnan Sami, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal | Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | 6:37 |
| 03 | Tere Naina | Shafqat Amanat Ali | Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | 4:38 |
| 04 | Allah Hi Rahem | Rashid Khan | Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | 4:01 |
| 05 | Khan Theme | Strings | Indrajit Sharma | 2:43 |
| 06 | Rang De | Shankar Mahadevan, Suraj Jagan | Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | 3:45 |
[edit]Reception
The soundtrack met with generally positive reviews from critics. Gianysh Toolsee of Planet Bollywood states that the soundtrack is "very much about transcending the boundaries set by Bollywood by venturing into an emotional state through Sufism and spirituality."[35] Joginder Tuteja ofBollywood Hungama gives the album a three out of five stars, suggests that director Karan Johar along with musicians Shankar-Ehsaan-Loyand lyricist Niranjan Iyengar "have brought not a partial but a substantial difference to the way music in [Johar's] films is being looked at."[36]
[edit]Controversies
[edit]Newark Airport incident
On 14 August 2009, Khan arrived in the United States in order to both promote My Name Is Khan and to participate in various South Asian-related events around the country (including Indian Independence Day). Upon arriving at Newark Airport in New Jersey, he was pulled aside by Immigration officers after his name popped up on their computers,[37] questioned for over an hour (Khan claims it was at least two hours) about the nature of his visit, and was later was released. According to the Times Online, "In Delhi, Timothy J. Roemer, the American Ambassador to India, said that the embassy was trying to 'ascertain the facts of the case.' He added: 'Shah Rukh Khan, the actor and global icon, is a welcome guest in the United States.'"[38][39]
Khan said he was told that it was because "they said my name was common to some name that popped up on the computer."[40][41] The officials asked if he could provide names of people to vouch for him. Khan noted that he "had all the documents; they were asking me where I was going to be staying. I gave the name of FOX people with whom I had finalised a deal a few days ago as contacts." However because they wanted to check his luggage which the airline had lost, Khan said that he "was taken to a room where many people were awaiting a secondary check on visa, most were Asians. In fact many officers were reluctantly vouching for me, some people were asking for autographs and a Pakistani fan even said he knew who I was. But the officers said it was procedure and kept taking numbers from me."[40][42]
While he was not allowed to use his own phone, Khan was permitted one phone call.[38] He was thus released after officials from the Indian Consulate intervened. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel stated that the event will be further explored with U.S. officials.[41] According to the BBC, "Elmer Camacho, a spokesman for the US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, said the questioning was part of the agency's routine process to screen foreign travellers."[43] When later asked during an interview whether he was angry, Khan responded that,
"I did feel bad for a lot of people in that room, I know because I had an escort and someone would recognise me, I will get out. Others may face more trouble ... I have extra security because of my name. I can handle this but when you have someone as respectable as an ex-president getting frisked, I am nobody" (in reference to the frisking of President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam earlier in the summer).[40]
Khan also stated that, "I think it is a procedure that needs to be followed. But it is an unfortunate procedure." When asked if he would demand an apology, Khan replied that he would not.[44]
The director of My Name Is Khan, Karan Johar, was asked during an August, 2009 interview with MiD DAY if the event was a publicity stunt for the film. Johar denied that it was and responded: "It's upsetting because I got a text message this morning asking me if it was publicity plug for my movie. (Sarcastically) I mean, if I had that much power over the Homeland Security, why would I allow Shah Rukh to go through something like this? ... What's really shocking is the fact that when I was writing the film, I never thought that what happened to the protagonist of the film would happen to Shah Rukh."[45] During a January 2010 interview, Khan referred to the implication that the the event was a publicity stunt for the film as, "lowdown and cheap." [46] American actor, Christopher B. Duncan who portrays President Obama in My Name Is Khan, also commented on the incident stating: "I was very disappointed with what SRK experienced at the airport. We’re living in times where the levels of fear can sometimes spill over into paranoia. Here’s a man who is an international superstar, being detained for an excessive amount of time at an airport in the United States. It had to be very upsetting for him. Imagine Oprah (Winfrey) being detained at an airport in India for a long time, during a kind of interrogation." [21]
In addition, the incident sparked debate and commentary among Indian politicians, actors, and others.[47][48][49][50][51] It also led to demonstrations in India.[52] California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger later invited Khan to have dinner with him "in a bid to diffuse what has become a slight diplomatic row."[53]
[edit]Shiv Sena controversy
After Shah Rukh Khan (who owns the Kolkata Knight Riders Cricket team) criticized the fact that members of the Pakistani Cricket Team were not bought by the clubs competing in the 2010 Indian Premier League (IPL), he was condemned by the Shiv Sena political party. There were consequent protests and demonstrations against him and demands that cinemas in India refuse to screen My Name Is Khan. Khan responded by stating, "What did I say that was wrong? All I said was that I wanted people to come to my country." [54] Khan continued that he does not owe an apology to the party and that, "I do not want any confrontation. I am trying to explain myself on every platform [...] I have not said anything that is anti-national." Khan further stated that he was willing to meet with Bal Thackeray to discuss the issue. [55] Shiv Sena later recinded its demand to block release of My Name Is Khan after it was announced that Khan would be allowed to release it "in as many theaters" as he would like to.[56]
| My Name Is Khan Songs of this movie | |
|---|---|
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