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I went and saw:

Ahh, Dharma productions – good on you! You made a film about a billion times better than ‘From Paris with Love’ – SHAME ON YOU TRAVOLTA! Naughty mega-star!

After Dostana (which I appeared in, briefly) I was wondering whether Karan Johar was ‘tackling the issue’ of homosexuality and its perception in India, or if he was just cashing in on it for cheap laughs. That fear subsided when I went to see My Name is Khan and was pleased to see a balanced and important representation of Islam and autism.

It’s pretty brave to tackle two issues at once, because it requires delicacy to describe which of the character’s behaviours belong to which issue. It is so easy to turn either into a caricature, as is often done with Tourette’s syndrome. Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan have done a masterful job into depicting an accurate and insightful representation of both, and I commend them for that.

SRK plays Rizwan Khan (Khan – ‘KH’ – from the epiglottis), who is the autistic son of a Muslim single mother. He grows up in India experiencing the difficulty of being an outcast, but eventually rises above the challenges of his condition and moves to America to become a traveling beauty product salesman. That’s where he meets Mandira (played by Kajol). Obviously, they fall in love but their love is torn asunder by radical American anti-Islamic sentiment (you’ll hear my voice saying ‘Get out of my country’ at one point – I did some background dubbing). Anyway, let’s get to my point.

Karan Johar, Shah Rukh, Kajol and Tarun Mansukhani (who directed Dostana and plays a store owner at the end of his tether) are all incredibly brave for even attempting to represent Islam. In India, radical power hungry clerics, politicians like Bal/Uddhav/Raj Thackery are almost always going to kick up a stink about any issue.

Be it the dangerous and divisive Shiv Sena getting angry that Islam is being shown as peace-loving; be it Islamic groups complaining about being depicted as warlike or disabled; or be it politicians using India’s terrible sedition laws to stifle freedom of expression claiming that the film shows India in a poor light; someone is sure to complain.

The Shiv Sena did threaten to riot and called for a boycott against the opening of the film, partly because they are Hindu extremists opposed to a film about Islam, and partly because the lead actor SRK said he though Pakistani players should be allowed to play cricket in India. If you ask me, they did it to stay in the headlines.

Shiv Sena Rioting against the release of MNiK

Religion in India is a serious issue, for many people it’s more important to them than family (we see hints of this in the film when Muslim Khan marries Hindu Mandira), for some it’s more important than their own life. It’s a scary thought – but it speaks to the emotional and dedicated nature of Indian people. I just hope for a day soon when Indian people will direct their love and dedication towards more positive means, because I see religion as a divisive force. It brings fear, feelings of powerlessness, hurt, pain and violence to everyone – theists and atheists alike.

Religions almost entirely full of wonderful, caring people who want to express their love through acts of kindness like Rizwan, who goes to the aid of poor black Christians stranded by a hurricane in Georgia. They are grateful and humble and want to dedicate their existence to something else – they are selfless.

But, there are always a few people who use the power of belief to support their own ends, and they always do it with violence and division. This character is played in MNiK by a extremist Muslim doctor who preaches violence, but they are ones in every religion. Religion offers power over the masses, and stunted by their inability to reason against doctrine, that control entices dangerous false prophets.

Atheists are almost impossible to herd in the same manner, because we are like cats: Fickle with our affection for authority, but (hopefully) tenacious in our hunger for truth and universal ethics. In Scandinavia, it’s easy to be Atheist, almost everyone else is. India is another matter.

I was massively impressed by Tarun Mansukhani when I recently saw him tweet: “I am an atheist. I don’t believe in god. I believe that I am answerable to my family and to my friends… Right here. Right now.” – because he is an Indian, living in India (the most religious country in the world) working in an industry that invites attention from all areas. He really is at the forefront of a change that will make India even greater, with acceptance of all, regardless of sexuality, devoid of division.

Dharma has released a tastefully made film that is worthy of International audiences. With the exception of its length (I still think Indian films are too long) and a tiny quirk of editing that occurs around a twist near the end of the film (no spoilers here), the whole film was a joy to watch. The computer effects were subtle, the performances memorable, and the point unmistakeable.

We are all people. Hum hai insaan. Bharat mahan hai.

India is great – Indian people are warm, generous and they are fantastic hosts. I wish my Australian countrymen would start to show them the same hospitality, perhaps we could learn to treat our guests like gods, as Mamooty said to me in Pazhassi Raja: “Atithi Devo Bhavah“

Technorati Tags: Bollywood, India