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Showing posts with label ShahRukh Khan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ShahRukh Khan. Show all posts
“We’ve brought in changes to the team and one of them is attitude. We also have added a new colour (purple) to our jersey,” he said in jest. “We’re focusing at the season ahead. We are ready for the new challenge.”
Skipper Sourav Ganguly said the need is to play freely. “This is what this format demands. We should all enjoy what we do. We’ll keep it simple. Whoever hits the white ball better will win.”
Coach Dav Whatmore, too, is confident. “The boys are very skillful. They have worked hard over the last few months and ready for the challenge ahead,” Whatmore stated.
Over the ongoing controversy between the National Broadcasters Association and the IPL, Shah Rukh said he was not aware of the issue.
“I don’t understand it, it’s too complicated and convoluted. NBA (National Broadcasters Association) is a fantastic unit. Lalit Modi (IPL chief) and his team are also a fantastic unit. I hope the issue will be resolved,” he said.
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My Name Is Khan
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Jimmy Shergill, Zarina WahabDirector: Karan Johar
Rating ****
Questions of religious and national identity, of the sense of right and wrong, of combating a certain isolation that comes with a behavioural disorder. But what triumphs over all the complexities unfolding in a tumultuous post 9/11 America is Rizwan Khan and his essential goodness that tells you unwaveringly - his name is Khan and he is not a terrorist.
Director Karan Johar is in unfamiliar territory here. No candyfloss romance, no sweet nothings, nobody breaking into song. Just the super intelligent Rizwan, who has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, his halting voice with his inability to communicate, and his many relationships - with his mother, his brother, and yes, Mandira, and her son Sam.
Move over Rahul, Rizwan is here. Shah Rukh makes the transition from the eternal romantic to the intense Rizwan who finds love and loses it some years later when his Khan identity becomes all important in a tense, suspicious America. You sit through three hours waiting to get a glimpse of Shah Rukh through Rizwan Khan, but it doesn't happen.
If Shah Rukh lives and breathes Rizwan in what is one of his finest roles, Kajol as Mandira, the vivacious single mother, is also good - as always. The chemistry between them if not always crackling, then heartwarming.
It's an unlikely romance, not very easy to portray. But it's dealt with a light touch. There they are sitting on either side of the bed after their wedding with Mandira telling Rizwan, who doesn't like to be hugged, that this is something they can't do without touching. It's a scene that could quite easily have gone wrong, but it doesn't.
All credit to Karan Johar for that.Like a piece of music that gradually rises to grand crescendo, "My Name Is Khan" begins with Rizwan as a child with his mother - so good to see Zarina Wahab after such a long time - in a tenement in Mumbai and ends with cheers from the US' first African American president in a crowded rally.
It's from his mother that Rizwan learns his first lessons of humanity; as the 1983 Mumbai riots rage outside, she tells the young boy that the world is divided into good people and bad people.
It is this essential humanism that carries Rizwan through from Mumbai to San Francisco where his brother stays, then to the suburb of Banville where he moves in with Mandira and Sam, and even when he is taken to be a terror suspect.
Sam, his "only best friend", is subjected to a vicious race attack because he takes on Rizwan's surname. Mandira hits back, saying that the worst thing she could have done was marry a Khan and Rizwan is out on the roads - unable to articulate his feelings but backpacking his way across the US to meet "president sahib" so he can tell him: "My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist."
It is a road journey through a troubled post 9/11 America towards humanism and the essential goodness of the human spirit.
This is a US where chanting the name of Allah gets you into trouble, where the word terrorist and Khan in conjunction can put you behind bars. Rizwan moves from being a terror suspect to a nationwide hero who exposes a terror mastermind. And then, the man with the mission who travels to Wilhelmina that is literally drowning in a hurricane to supervise a heroic rescue mission.
There's Afghanistan and Iraq, Bush and Obama too. The US' first African American president is voted in and, in that final feel good moment Rizwan meets him in front of thousands of people and his goodness is validated.
Plenty of great one liners. When he is refused entry into a presidential fundraiser for the poor in Africa that is only for Christians, he leaves behind $500 saying: "This if for those who are not Christians in Africa."
The music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is superb.
This is not a film without flaws, it is at least 20 minutes too long for one and flags in the pre-interval period, but here is one straight from the heart.
It has a message, in these days of tensions over language and religion, one which needs to be heard. Go watch.
via:santabanta.com
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Keeping his fingers crossed, the 44-year-old star also says his stardom is transient and wants a "closure" in the tense row with the Shiv Sena which has threatened to disrupt the film's screening if he does not apologise for his remarks favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricket players in IPL.
"My stardom is transient. my integrity in non negotiable ...my being indian unquestionable...hope peace prevails. Hope misunderstandings get cleared. hope nobody is hurt. hope all leaders & activists have largesse of heart. hope...," Khan, who is currently in Berlin for the premiere of his film, tweeted.
"nobody wants the mumbaikers or their property hurt & destroyed. least of all me." 1,600 Shiv Sena activists have been arrested so far to ensure a peaceful release of the film.
Shah Rukh also said he is making his point clear for the last time and sought closure, praying for peace in the city, which he owes everything to.
"this also is the last time i clarify or say anything on this topic. this is not a justification, its just reiterating the facts," he said.
"i may not have the same ideologies as the sena but on the question of me being a patriot, i dont think there should be any confusion. feel awful that balasahib & udhav have misconstrued my words. the reactions of the sena workers seems to make me believe that (sic)," he said.
The actor also hit out at detractors for alleging that the whole controversy was created to gain publicity for the film ahead of its release.
"i want to enjoy my film everywhere. i want to enjoy it within myself. and to sickos who think this is for publicity..2 words SHUT UP !!," wrote an angry Shah Rukh. The actor said that he decided to speak out because he wanted to clear the misunderstanding.
"i have the courage of conviction by my side. i explain becos better to do that, than create aggression & division in my country. i have no ego or false sense of pride. my words have been benign & without ill will to any person (s) or my nation (sic)," the actor said.
"dont want mayhem anger and violence cos of our beautiful film...which talks about repairing a bruised & divided world. writing not to justify but to spell out clearly who i am & my beliefs. seems otherwise i am misunderstood. should i write in block letters?," he added.
Khan said he owed everything to Mumbai and wanted a peaceful release of the film.
"nationality: indian. born in : delhi. owe everything to: mumbai. loves: my country india, my family & freedom. desire: entertain all...ironic & sad. a film made for world peace has led to so much angst in my own house.my city.my country. Let not anyone be hurt is all i pray (sic)," he said.
The film has been dogged by controversy since the beginning, be it Khan's US airport detention or the Shiv Sena threat.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/My-integrity-is-nonnegotiable-SRK/578597/
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BollywoodHungamaNewsNetwork
Posted: Feb 11, 2010 at 1201 hrs IST
Mumbai My Name Is Khan is just a few hours away from release and the obvious question that comes to mind is around the box office
outcome of the film. With 3 Idiots setting such high standards at the box office and breaking the ceiling, doesn't it put an additional pressure on MNIK to perform further well?
It seems like this was the only ammunition that was waiting to find a way on the battlefield because Karan gets all fired up at this juncture. "I don't know why write-ups around one film taking a bigger opening than another or whether MNIK would be able to reach the highest slot when it comes box office openings keep appearing without any rhyme or reason. The kind of films that we are seeing today are all different from each other. Veer was different from 3 Idiots, just like My Name Is Khan is different from Veer. You can't be comparing a Guzaarish with a Kites. Or you can't be picking up a Raajneeti and start drawing comparisons with 3 Idiots. This is why I don't like the entire comparing business because all films are different from each other."
Calming down, he further goes on to extend his logic around difference in expectations that one must have when looking at two major films, "First and foremost we should be cognizant of the fact that comparing two entities never helps. A film should be allowed to breathe in the way it deserves to. Yes, now if only I would have made a film in a campus with students as my heroes then perhaps I may have compared it with 3 Idiots. But then just like you could never compare a Lagaan with a Dil Chahta Hai, similarly you can't ever compare MNIK with 3 Idiots or any other film."
Meanwhile, Karan is happy to be following the 'mantra' of making quality films without worrying much about their blockbuster fate.
"At Dharma Productions, we have great vibes amongst us", says Karan, "Everyone is quite passionate about filmmaking and we believe that we should always make films that we are proud of. Commercial success is important but not at the expense of something that would make us cringe later."
No wonder, most of the first time filmmakers working with Karan are happy to be working in an environment that challenges as well as motivates them to make something worth remembering.
"I never ask my directors to give me a film that would fetch me 80, 100 or 120 crores. Once you do that, you only end up putting pressure on the poor guy. Instead, I want them to focus entirely on the subject in front of them and leave the box office in the hands of audiences. This is what Ayan Mukerjee did with Wake Up Sid and look how he passed with flying colours both critically and commercially. Similar was the case with Rensil D'Souza who ensured that there is definite quality component to Kurbaan", concludes Karan with a tone of appreciation.
via:http://www.expressindia.com/
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As Shah Rukh Khan – Kajol starrer ‘My Name Is Khan’ gears up to hit screens this Friday, we give you 5 good reasons to not miss this one.
Direction’s cut...
Karan Johar has previously given us hits likes ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham’ with Shah Rukh and Kajol. The director returns again with My Name Is Khan with the two talented actors. Karan has self admitted that SRK- Kajol bring out the best in him. He said in an interview, “I’m blessed to have them in my film. I don't know what it is about them. It's just magic. They build an inexplicable energy on screen. When I direct a scene with Shah Rukh and Kajol, I know I'm doing my best work.”
No doubts then that MNIK will be a complete entertainer and get you your ticket money’s worth.
A different kind of love...
Lead actors Shah Rukh and Kajol are all over the place saying that MNIK is a love story but a different kind at that. And one aspect that makes the love affair between SRK and Kajol’s characters in the film different is that SRK is playing a person suffering from Asperger's syndrome – a kind of autism where a person shows significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.
Jodi kamal ki...
They have made you laugh, they have made you cry, they have made your heart skip a beat, they have made you fall in love... and now they both return to entertain you yet again.
Music...
The music of ‘My Name Is Khan’ has got great reviews and the songs have been topping the chartbusters, with ‘Sajda’ and ‘Tere Naina’ being the hot numbers played on radio stations very often. Picturized on a dynamic jodi of SRK and Kajol, the songs will come alive on the big screen for sure. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are the music directors of the album that boasts of some beautiful singers like Rashid Khan, Adnan Sami, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Richa Sharma and Shafqat Amanat Ali.
Theme...
Unlike the general perception, ‘My Name Is Khan’ is not about terrorism. So after the average success of John-Katrina’s ‘New York’ and Saif-Kareena’s ‘Kurbaan’, all those who are in second thoughts about watching MNIK should now make a decision in the positive.
As Shah Rukh Khan puts it, “‘My Name Is Khan’ is not about terrorism but it focuses on themes concerning the relationship between the Western world and Islam and how that has changed over the past few years. The movie revolves around the journey of one family and how it changes because of 9/11.”
SRK adds, “MNIK is 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.”
via:http://movies.indiatimes.com
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Shiv Sena activists. Multiplex chains like PVR and Cinemax withdrew their advance bookings for the film, as did single screen theatres such as Mehul in Mulund and Shreyas in Ghatkopar, their officials said.
"We have shut the advance bookings for the film as of now. It may open around 4 p.m. today but nothing is certain at present," Girish Wankhede, deputy general manager (Corporate Communication) of Cinemax, told IANS.
Pramod Madhve, an official from Mehul Theatre, said: "Nothing about the film's release is fixed yet. We hope to receive updates by tomorrow. But the advance bookings have been shut for now."
A Shreyas Theatre official said: "Bookings have been closed as of now, we should be in a position to tell you about the release by tomorrow."
According to TV channels, major multiplexes like PVR, Big Cinemas, Adlabs and Fun Cinemas too have closed their advance booking windows for "My Name Is Khan".
Activists of the right wing Shiv Sena have been demonstrating against the movie since Shah Rukh supported the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The activists have been vandalising cinema halls and tearing up hoardings, despite the Mumbai Police assuring security cover at the 63 cinemas and multiplexes that are still scheduled to show the movie here from Friday.
"We don't see it as a threat to the release of the movie but it's a threat to the law and order situation," Himanshu Roy, joint police commissioner (Law & Order), said Wednesday.
More than 1,000 Sena activists have been arrested.
"My Name Is Khan", set in post 9/11 US, is releasing worldwide Friday
via: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/media/entertainment-/entertainment/My-Name-Is-Khan-advance-bookings-stopped-in-Mumbai/articleshow/5555579.cms
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By Joginder Tuteja, February 10, 2010 - 12:10 IST
Bollywood has moved on, better films are coming in; audiences' expectations have soared higher while filmmakers (the ones who are willing to change with the times) have matured as well. The ones who were only making a particular kind of cinema have started experimenting with diverse subjects. Quite a few actors too have realised that change is the name of the game and being routine is passé. Commercial cinema has started seeing a new definition for itself while the success of 3 Idiots has proved that sky is the limit if the film carries a great entertainment value even if there is this deep rooted message hidden somewhere deeper down.This is exactly what one looks forward to from My Nmae Is Khan as well where Karan Johar, Shah Rukh, Kajol and Co. have aspired to tell a story which is new and fresh, boasts of a certain responsibility quotient to it and still has been designed as a universal entertainer which would appeal to a global audience, a market that it promises to explore in weeks to come. No wonder, the man behind it all, Karan Johar, chooses to call My Name Is Khan as a love story at heart which comes with good enough entertainment value in spite of an issue being addressed at the gut level.
MNIK a film about terrorism? Wrong perception
"There is this entire perception which is making the rounds that My Name Is Khan is a serious film about a serious issue with terrorism as it's back drop. The fact is, this is an entirely wrong perception", Karan sets the record straight once for and all. If he is really tired of defending his yet to be released dozen times a day, he is not quite making an attempt to hide it. The reason behind his tiring state is understandable. After all the film is barely a couple of days away from the release and the wrong perception may just be sounding a little too threatening, especially so when MNIK has quite a lot going in it's favour at the moment. "Yes, there is an issue which is being addressed but at the end of the day this film is an emotional love story. It is about a man (Rizwan Khan, played by Shah Rukh Khan) who embarks on a mission for love. The story is about what prompts him to get going on this mission and where does he eventually go. But there is nothing about terrorism in MNIK; you don't see any terrorist in the film."
This immediately sets MNIK apart from Karan Johar's last production Kurbaan (directed by Rensil D'Souza) which had terrorism as it's driving force with it's lead protagonist (Saif Ali Khan) playing the role of a Pakistani terrorist. Though some rumour mongers had a field day initiating idle conversations around the similarities between the two films, Karan Johar instead chose to shrug it all away.
The name is Khan. Rizwan Khan. "The film is about Rizwan who doesn't know that in this personal mission of his, he is making such a huge difference for the rest of the world. The power of any initiative lies in doing something with all the heart and compassion without being marred by any ill thoughts or corrupted outlook. Rizwan is one such individual who does so much but without an understanding that his act would have such wider impact. He is so genuine and true and this is why he does everything with so much of heart and compassion. There are very few people who feel pure love and act as per that. This is why the story is possible when seen from Rizwan's point of view because his mind is completely honest while his heart is truly uncluttered and pure", Karan goes on to describe the element of love which are so prevalent when it comes to Rizwan Khan.
One wonders where does all of this leave Kajol? While Shah Rukh Khan seems to be enjoying an author backed role here, does Kajol get her moments of glory in the film as well? After all, the journey of MNIK is being touted to be that of a man whose wife leaves him behind for certain reasons.
"Again, one more wrong perception", sighs Karan, "Who says that Mandira (the character played by Kajol in the film) leaves Rizwan? Though I certainly don't wish to reveal anything around the storyline, let me set the record straight that it is Rizwan who is forced to leave Mandira because she says something to him which drives him to take such a drastic step. Beyond this, I don't wish to comment on anything else. Why don't you watch the film and get answers to the all perceptions that are being fed to you?"
Shah Rukh and Kajol - 'Janam Janam Ka Saath'?
One wonders though how audience would be reacting to this rather different chemistry between Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol who are returning on screen more than 8 years after Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham? After all, together they have worked in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Karan Arjun and Baazigar - all of which have been mega hits that continue to find huge patronage amongst audience, courtesy their satellite re-runs. Since in each of these films, Shah Rukh and Kajol are shown to be sharing the vows of 'janam janam ka saath' with promise of togetherness being a single most stand out factor, won't audience be shocked with some diverse character portrayals that they have in the film? Karan hardly pauses for a moment before answering this. "Let's admit it, everyone is required to evolve and grow over a period of time. I have grown, audience has shown over a period of time that how evolved they have become and our actors too have taken a huge leap further", Karan does a quick reality check here.
One wonders though that when a film has Shah Rukh as a central protagonist with the promos also giving an indication that it revolves primarily around his character, how does Kajol make her presence felt and justify her inclusion? Assures Karan, "Kajol has a very strong role in My Name Is Khan and nowhere would you feel that she has been left behind. She is a big part of the journey that Khan takes. After all at its heart, the film is a love story of Rizwan and Mandira."
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