My Name is Khan and I am not a Terrorist: an historic cinematic moment

Arindam Chaudhuri

Some people watch television to relax. i watch Bollywood films. There is an interesting display of dancing, excellent use of color, really smoothing music and the actors appear from film to film: something akin to meeting old friends all dressed up in new clothes.

So imagine my surprise when I sat down in my favorite recliner, for the three hour entertainment of chose, My Name is Khan and I am not a Terrorist, and there is no music, no dancing, no light almost simplistic comedic moments. Instead there is a film with all my friends dressed in European or traditional clothes but the film had a message, a message I am not certain I wanted to hear.
Don't go to America. Don't get on that plane. Stay home

This message was punctuated with scenes from airport security and scenes from United States jails that reminded me of the horror of living in third world countries where humanity is painfully absent. Is this really the Bollywood image of America, i had to ask, with my eyes half closed to the torture afforded my actor friends.

Yes, things have changed. Even in India and this film My Name Is Khan and I am not a Terrorist is making more money in a shorter period of time than any film that came before it, or so I have been told.

What prompted the film is the ill treatment afforded the lead actor, "The week’s big story was Shahrukh Khan's interrogation in the USA".
The mega superstar when he came to the United States, was detained for two hours with his name not registering as anyone special, just another Muslin. He never left the airport but got on a return flight to India. It was an ordeal that brought reality into clear focus. Don't go to America. It is worse than living here in our country where dead bodies lie on the streets and the homeless rate is fifty per cent of the population.

Is this what has happened to the image of America: the home of the brave, the free, the wealthy, void of random detention, or crippling prejudice; a place where everyone is welcomed?

If you don't see any other Bollywood film this year or next, I recommend you see this one.

On DVD


Linda Z
WBAI Women's Collective