It's a trio of greats; a triumph of talent. Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar and Kajol have always been an irresistible combo… and an unbeatable package. Besides, the 'K' factor, too has been thrown in for good luck and what's better, it seems to be working its magic again.

'My Name Is Khan' is an act of courage by Johar, whose repertoire, until now was amply loaded with NRI candy floss romances. But the duo of SRK and Johar seem to have grown up, and together have joined forces to craft a film which has raised the bar for both of them.

It is supremely heartening to witness Shah Rukh shed his familiar mannerisms and air of stardom and don the mantle of Rizwan Khan, the protagonist of the K Jo production. SRK does what he has done very rarely in his career, which is to stop being SRK and… truly transform into his cine character.

One can just about count 'Swades' and 'Chak De India' on one's fingers, and now one can safely add 'My Name Is Khan' to the luminous list. This is not to deny his magnetism or charisma which is quite unparalleled.

The film assumes even more significance in the face of the protests by the Shiv Sainiks in Mumbai against the film's release, as it eerily mirrors the real life trauma that SRK has just been through with the Shiv Sena raising questions of his integrity and patriotism. The character of Rizwan Khan in the movie goes around telling all that his name is Khan but he is not a terrorist, quite akin to what SRK is doing on twitter, various news channels, media interviews etc.

The film is quite an ambitious venture by Karan, one that he could not handle with due maturity in 'Kurbaan' which was directed by Rensil D'Silva, but one which has been treated with a heartwarming humane tale in 'My Name Is Khan'. The basic premise of the movie, set in the post 9/11 era, is that while all terrorists may be Muslim, all Muslims are not terrorists.

The film's story is basically about young Rizwan, who is afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome, a birth disorder. He is brought up by his mother (Zarina Wahab) in Mumbai and after her death, he migrates to the US to live with his brother and his wife, played by Jimmy Shergill and Sonya Jehan.
Rizwan has a problem with social interaction, intimacy, and is uncomfortable around crowded and noisy places and loud colours. In San Francisco, he starts life as a salesman of beauty products and fate ushers him into meet Mandira (Kajol), a single mother, who works as a hair stylist.
Rizwan falls in love,in his own manner with Mandira and wants to move in with her and her son, Sam. In due time, Rizwan and Mandira get married and life is quite beautiful for them. Rizwan bonds extremely well with his stepson and the two are quite a team. But then… 9/11 takes place and rocks the world. And Rizwan's universe too.
Suddenly the equations between Muslims and non Muslims are rattled, racial prejudice raises its fangs. Rizwan, Mandira and their little nest is blown apart by its repercussions. Mandira, battling her own demons, leaves Rizwan.

It is here that the films enters a very ambitious territory as Rizwan fights to win his wife back. He begins his journey across the US, encountering different people, cultures, prejudices, hatred, and finally emerges a true hero.

The film captures the post 9/11 atmosphere of distrust and hatred and the hyper active law keepers. The paranoia of the times is captured beautifully as this one man begins the journey in his quest to find good people and tell the world that even though his name is Khan, he is not a terrorist.
He remembers his mother's words that the world is only divided into good and bad people. It is this lesson, learnt so early in life, that he carries in his heart, all through his journey. It is this which really touches one at the most basic level.
Anything or anyone that is anti life is evil. Nothing could be simpler than this lesson which we all learnt very early in our lives, but one which we have forgotten due to our social conditioning which has taught us to discriminate on the basis of colour, sex, creed, country and religion.

Karan Johar shows a rare maturity in the manner in which he is able to essay this heartwarming and humane tale of love and integrity. He manages to keep his control on the film and except for a couple of instances, the proceedings never bog one down. The film never gets heavy or too preachy even as it manages to raise a lot of issues about identity. In fact, the hallmark of the movie is its simplicity and integrity with its core issue.
There are some lovely sequences in the movie, which stay with one, like the Rizwan Mandira romance; Rizwan's bonding with Sam; Rizwan standing up to a fanatic and the Church sequence.

The highlight of the movie is definitely its characters who bring the action alive. Shah Rukh Khan as Rizwan turns in one of the most authentic performances of his career. One is of course not sure, how a person afflicted with Asperger's is supposed to behave, but SRK is consistent in his performance and kind of reinvents himself with this role. Despite shedding his charming, rich NRI mannerisms, the SRK magic endures.
Kajol as Mandira is a perfect foil for him and is, as always, superb in the dramatic sequences, as well as the lighter moments in 'My Name Is Khan'. It is worth the wait watching SRK and Kajol together on screen. The other characters too have been very well cast, like Zarina Wahab as Rizwan's mother, Jimmy Shergill as his brother and Soniya Jehan.

The film's music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is subtle and fits into the scheme of things perfectly, specially the 'tere naina' number. Shibani Bhatija does a good job with the screenplay. Ravi Chandran's cinematography is top notch. But the final touch is Karan Johar's and he floors you with the manner in which he manages to tell an extraordinary tale of love with such honesty.
The life of the movie, undoubtedly, is SRK as Rizwan, who grows on you as the movie progresses. Karan Johar manages to put his point across quite effectively in the movie, maybe at times bordering on over doing it, but then that's true Bollywood style, to lay it on really thick.
Among the sequences which seem a mite too hard to stomach ranks a flood sequence. 'MNIK', nevertheless, merits a deluge of praise…