According to a Reuters report, the Friday opening of Karan Johar's My Name is Khan forced movie theaters in Mumbai to be turned into "fortresses," with thousands of police in riot gear outside theaters and plainclothesmen inside the halls. Reason for all that protection: flag-waving Hindu fanatics who now have star Shahrukh Khan (above) as their Enemy No. 1 after the actor remarked that no Pakistani cricketers had been picked for the Indian Premier League. The radical nationalist Hindu Shiv Sena party, which runs the Mumbai municipality, is a fierce opponent of Muslim Pakistan.
In My Name is Khan, which is being screened out of competition at the Berlin Film Festival, Khan plays an autistic Muslim who suffers discrimination in the United States after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It was ironic, Khan was quoted as saying, that "a film made for peace 'has led to so much angst in my own house. My city. My country. Am I political or politically incorrect?'"
Mumbai is home to the Bollywood film industry, and some political analysts have warned the Sena's radicalism may hurt Mumbai's image abroad. Others targeted by the party include industrialist billionaire Mukesh Ambani and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
Here's an interesting piece on how My Name Is Khan may profit from the controversy.
Photos: 20th Century Fox
best movie ever.. my 12 year old is watching it now as a homeschool study unit
I LOVE YOU SHAHRUKH KHAN YOU ARE MY SWEETHART YOU VERY VERY SWEET I LOVE YOU. 1 4 3.
I LOVE YOU FROM MY HEART. ICH BIN DEIN GRÖSSTER FAN I LOVE YOU. :D
you did a great job sharukh and you inspired a lot of Muslims round the world who watched this movie thank you sharukh
i watched the movie "my name is khan" five days after it's release dates because we get em late in Australia.
The movie was awesome and i am sure it will be a blockbuster movie this year.
for me, the greatest movie is non other than War of the Worlds.'~-
It's The best india-movie, The greatest.
equal to titanic or scarlet o Hara.
SRK so wonderfull playing this caracter.
ONLY him can do this act.
A movies that make Us re-thinking again
what we are here for on this planet.
its a good movie.i like n weep during movie many times its good
Shahrukh khan and Kajol IS THE BEST
iam the great fan of srk i know that the srk will be the best actor in the world i want become like u plz help me srk kuda kie vaste plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
STRATEGY BEHIND MNIK CONTROVERSY
(www.jalpeshmehta.blogspot.com)
My Name is Khan will be more famous in the History not for the content or the great acting of SRK-Kajol or the sensitive topic, but merely for the Controversy around it with the Shiv Sena"s protest against Shah rukh Khan this Pro-Pakistani players approach in the IPL
Today, the Cub turned young Tiger woke up and roared – at the right time with right data. The man is non other than RAJ THACKERAY who speaks the fact so true which neither the accused nor the media has an answer to. Was thinking since last few days, where did Raj Thackeray vanish amidst the re-hijacked Marathi Maanus and Mumbaikar Issue raised by the so-dead-now alive Uncle Bal Thackeray Re-Hijacked as in it was erstwhile the agenda of Shiv Sena to play around the vote bank with Marathi Card, which was successfully hijacked by much dynamic and young nephew of Bala Saheb Raj who proved the same by data in the last 2 elections. And again the agenda is Re-Hijacked by the Uncle. One thing is simply clear – Caste and Creed are the only productive cards for Victory in Indian Politics. Development is some strange new word in the dictionary of Indian Politicians.
This is for the first time Raj spoke about his rival party"s protests against the movie. This as well as some more facts can open eyes of the Citizen and as a Marketing Strategies, I would refer the whole controversy around the Movie as a Win-Win Situation for 3 Parties. The Shiv-Sena, SRK and the Congress-NCP Government. The only party left out this time is Raj and his MNS and hence we hear him.
Raj"s point is very clear, which helps open the eyes of the Indian Citizen on the whole issue. The point is simple. "Such a noise is made over Shah Rukh Khan for this one statement of his. But no one is saying anything about Amitabh Bachchan singing poetry with Pakistanis for a newspaper," said Raj at a press conference in Mumbai. "They are demanding an apology from Khan for his remarks on Pakistani players. But Bachchan was seen a couple of days ago sharing the dais with Pakistani artistes and reciting poems. If Khan has to apologise, then why not Bachchan."
This is a hard fact and I agree with Raj atleast for this. Some brief analysis on the 3 beneficiaries of the whole Controversy (1) Shiv-Sena and Bal Thackeray (2) SRK (3) Congress-NCP Government- The Strategic Analysis* of MNIK Controversy is as below.
(1) Beneficiary 1 : Uncle Bal Thackeray who was almost a written off case as good as a Jyoti Basu, who most Calcuttans abused to the core, but when he died, all paid homage to, – Bala Saheb has all of a sudden come into limelight. The base is the Marathi Vote Bank and the existence (hindi- astitva) of Shiv Sena in front of the growing strong MNS of Raj Thackeray. Since 2-3 years, no one wrote or quoted Bal Thackeray so seriously except his own party run paper Saamna. And todays TOI is all praises about the man quoting that all from various walks of life come to Bal Thackeray to seek his divine blessings.
Well, nothing is wrong from their perspective. Any party will need some strategy to regain its lost vote bank and it is their job. This controversy will help get them some mileage as each of the 1500 arrested Shiv Sainiks who would have spent 3-4 nights in the lock up will be almost like a small semi demi god in their chawls and areas when they go back. They will be garlanded and welcome and will gain more popularity as much as Bhagat Singh gained to become like a martyr and fight for his cause. Each Sainik will get a new lease of life, a refreshed vote bank and this will help in the time to come.
(2) Beneficiary 2 : Bollywood Baadshah SRK- Well, I highly respect this guy not exactly for his acting, but for his marketing and branding skills and this could be the best possible way to outshine much stronger competitors around. That is the difference between Sachin Tendulkar and SRK. The former, sleeps on the floor and touches the feet of Uncle Bal and the latter squeezes the complete mileage out of the situation before doing so. The common factor is that possibly both sleep.
Now, coming to SRK – One fact is a mystery as per Raj and all of us too – will tweet SRK on this and am sure he will reply back with some convincing answer- that"s his skill. The Mystery is if SRK is backing the participation of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL, why did he not select Pakistani cricketers for his Kolkata Knightriders team.
The cast and crew of "My Name is Khan" are attending its premiere in Abu Dhabi and later head to Europe for a screening at the Berlin film festival. Well, one more fact that Raj missed out and may be some of us is that (1) the movie of Rs 50 Crs, bought by the Fox group for Rs 90 Crs- My Name is Khan is going to make ONLY Rs 10 Crs from Mumbai – That is hardly 10% – so why would some one be so bothered over it – but well, the publicity out of the controversy can make the Mumbai contribution Rs. 6 Crs, but the other places would make up or may be gross much more than expected due to the whole controversy.
A good strategy SRK- to overpower the recent fame of Competitors – Aamir Khan (3 idiots) or even Amitabh Bachchan (even at this age,he keeps on doing anything to be there) or Sachin Tendulkar even Rahul Gandhi (if he sees him a peers from any angle). Atleast I see this a little positive as compared to others who have always bowed down and said sorry… Good stand SRK, atleast from a Citizens view.
(3) Beneficiary 3 : The Congress-NCP led government, where in CM Ashok Chavan and RR Patils Home Ministry has arrested 1500 Shiv Sainiks and warned 50 Middle level leaders (what do you mean by warn ??) and are assuring the Citizen of Mumbai full security and support just to fool us, where on the otherside, their own leaders like Sharad Pawar (NCP Head), DY Patil (Congress past few days to seek good wishes and blessings.strong man, educationist, now the Governor of Tripura), have been visiting Bala Saheb over the past few days to seek good wishes and blessings.
Lots of questions arises in the Middle and Upper Middle class on the assurances of the CM and team to control the situation – this class ideally do not matter for the politicians as they are not the vote banks. The proof is despite the assurances of Police and the whole bandobast, the cinema and multiplex owners do not have faith in the system and have not been selling tickets. But yes, the Lower and lower-middle class is ga-ga over the superb guts of the Government to commit full security and safety. This class does not understand that its the Governments job and they get paid for it. The Government is gaining more confidence of the so called votebank, the masses.
Thanks Raj, intriguing me to write this piece post reading your pain point. But you should also remember that when you were a part of Shiv Sena years ago, you and your team also protested against Sanjay Dutt (For Khalnayak due to his TAT case ) , Aamir Khan (For Fanaa) and your Favourite Amitabh Bachchan for Shahenshah (during Bofors).
Strategies aside, I am looking forward to see My Name is Khan either today, tomorrow or whenever and am sure many of us would – We should not get surprised, if we see Aditya Thackeray, the young and creative Shivsainik – son of Uddhav Thackeray watching and enjoying My Name is Khan with close friends. And one more good news for the young lovers. feel free to express your love this valentine, as the Sainiks will be busy achieving their targets for My Name is Khan !
Disclaimer
*Well, Strategy is a game of mind and one has to speculate all areas possible to derive the win-win situations as winning is the core objective behind any strategy, not necessarily exactly what has come out below is the strategy of the beneficiary, but one can speculate around the same if it could be the strategy at all. Deriving a strategy is game of adding one plus one ofcourse with past track records, peoples view as there can never be a published data of any such strategy.
(www.jalpeshmehta.blogspot.com)
Watched the movie today. Cried countless times, soo touching. I have a son with Asperger's, and I certainly hope that my son can achieve what SRK's character achieved in the movie, a job, a loving wife, a kind and humane character. I will teach my kids also tht there are only 2 types of people. the good and the bad.
srk is best 4ever
One of the greatest movie in the world and SRK is simply a great actor. SRK is the best………….
I luv SRK. He is just d best as far as bollywood is concerned. More sweat 2 his armpit(ie more power 2 his elbow)
This was a great film!
I work with the Autism community and I appreciate the making of this outstanding movie!!
I like this movie and love SRK.
the best movie i have ever seen
I just saw this movie today and SRK is a wonderful actor. I have a n autistic daughter, and his portrayal was dead-on. My only criticism is that the USA is portrayed as anti-Muslim. This is not the case. After 9/11, the entire country was afraid. We do know that the Muslims who did this to our country are RADICAL followers of Islam, therefore, we, as average Americans, do not hate Muslims. The Muslims who attacked us on 9/11 were, nonetheless, Muslims, however. We, as Americans, want to defend our country as much as Indians do theirs. I was hoping that this movie would not portray George Bush as being mean and unfeeling and Obama as soft and cuddly, however, so I was disappointed at that. Remember that President Bush had to deal with the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and Obama has the luxury of pointing out any mistakes the earlier administration may have made. Americans do not think they are perfect….we just love our country as much as Indians love theirs.
my best movie
i like srk
This movie is so well.i hope it will be gretest movie all over the world.
Rakib,Bangladesh
AWSUM MOVIE!!! ALL SHOULD WATCH! SRK OUTSTANDING. BEST MOVIE OF THE DECADE!
I think no movie is made for hitting any religous community,so such type of protest are of no mean
hiiii……
I'av not watched the movie yet…..
But,
I think it's a great one.
I came to know that……
This movies is mostly based on Peace.
It's a Great job.
Encouraging unity & Peace among each other.
Thats a true hero of my world.
I would love to see that movie 10 times.
When i get it.
I Love it…………