A Bollywood Forrest Gump. This was a label applied to Indian movie My Name is Khan following its international release earlier this year.
It's the story of Rizvan Khan - a Muslim man with Asperger's who lives happily in the US with his Hindu wife (Kajol) and her son. However, everything changes after 9/11. When the Khans experience fear-fuelled prejudice first hand, Rizvan sets out on an odyssey to meet the US president to tell him that his name is Khan and he is not a terrorist.
I loved this movie starring Bollywood sensation Shahrukh Khan. Thought-provoking, entertaining, funny, cute and deeply moving, it's definitely worth a watch. It is however a rather sweeping generalisation to refer to it as a Bollywood Forrest Gump since it's not a typical Bollywood movie nor is it a replica of the award-winning Tom Hanks movie.
It's fun to note the similarities though. So here they are:
1. My name is... http://youtube.com/v/JdsMqRaz2WY 2. Disability
Khan has Asperger's. Gump has a low IQ.
3. Strong mother figure http://youtube.com/v/R_M9WrTC_qM 4. Narration
Both Khan and Gump narrate their epic life stories.
5. True love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQf1NtwGpMw&fs=1
http://youtube.com/v/cFTbYHeC6Sc 6. Both live through key moments in American history.
7. Both experience personal tragedy.
8. Both characters embark on a road trip across the States.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN8kAjbuCIA&fs=1
9. Both Khan and Gump become media sensations.
10. Both characters meet the president.
My Name is Khan is currently available on demand on Sky Box Office
