Raj and Simran are back but this time they are here with new names, a new love story and a new setting. The bubbly and chirpy couple that we all so adored in DDLJ have undergone a complete change in My Name is Khan but the grit and guts of delivering a fantastic performance by Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol still remains unchanged and has matured to a great level. What might look like any other story of people caught in the aftermath post 9/11 and we have had a lot of such stories coming our way in the past few years, this one stands out. There is something about this film that will make you think and even evaluate yourself as a person no matter where you live.

The story revolves around Rizwan Khan played by Shah Rukh Khan who suffers from a disorder known as Asperger’s Syndrome which makes him super intelligent but a bit different in a physical form from other people. This is Rizwan’s unique journey that begins in India and then takes him to San Francisco and all over America so that he can prove to his love Mandira and prove to the prejudiced world around him that he is not a terrorist but an ordinary person who has more than what others have. Rizwan is a sweet and lovable person who simply believes in one fact that there are both good and bad people in this world and we need to just distinguish between the two. His concern for people around him and the ability to selflessly understand the concerns of others makes him a wonderful human being. He can be described as someone that the world might need today.

At the same time we are introduced to Mandira played by Kajol, a single mother who in most cases is the opposite of Rizwan but they somehow share a common platform somewhere that brings them together and which forms the crux of the film. Mandira can be best described as Rizwan’s reflection which he seeks and cares for and she too looks for some kind of comfort in him. But things change post 9/11 and the two drift apart and that’s when Rizwan resolves to get her back in his life in a way no one can even think of.

As a director Karan Johar shows immense maturity in handling a subject that is not only unique but also very fragile. Gone are the days of bubble gum romances such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai coz here is one film that has changed even the director. To add to this a tight script and a beautiful story by Shibani Bathija which makes this film real worth watch. Like most of his films, My Name is Khan comes with a whole lot of emotions and some tear jerking scenes specially the scene where Mandira who has just lost her son to racial hatred screams at Rizwan to leave her and Rizwan is trying his best to analyze as to what is going on. The music of the film is already topping the charts and the best thing is that the songs are an integral part of the story and push film forward. The first half of the film is fast and breezy and you don’t even realize as to when its time for interval however the second half does tend to drag a bit and one does feel at a point that the length of the film could have been a bit less. But this small demerit bites the dust the moment the film ends.

As far as the performances go, there are no words to describe Shah Rukh Khan. With such a wonderful performance, we can rightly say that in this role he has Rizwan under his skin and right to his mind. It’s just wow, wow and wow with loads of applause. The same goes for the ever so talented Kajol, who once again gives a bravura performance and yes the magical pair of Shah Rukh and Kajol are back all over again.

My Name is Khan is a kind of film that comes after a long time and has the power to change and move society. It can be called as a film which has the revolutionary essence of a Rang De Basanti and the charm of a matured love story like Lamhe rolled into one. Missing a film like My Name is Khan is something you must not do. Even if you are not a Shah Rukh Khan fan, give this one a try at least once, you will feel your mind getting a nice spring cleaning after this.