Confessions of A Fan

7^th of February, 2010,  10:25 PM.

So, I am sitting in a train coming back from a weekend outing with my parents, and writing this. It is hard to believe but the sole objective of my parents to take me to this trip was to deviate my mind from My Name Is Khan. But Alas! My parents did not really think that Shahrukh Khan and his film will make a foray into one of the deepest corners of West Bengal, and rather than deviate my mind from My Name Is Khan, it would end up exciting me even more. So here we were sitting in the Train Compartment yesterday, the 6^th of Feb, the man sitting a row ahead of us, turns his newspaper, and the headline disappoints my Mother. The headline reads, ‘Shahrukh Back in Mumbai’, and after an interval of just about 10 minutes Shahrukh is also Back in my mind. During the course of the train journey, I ended up asking that stranger for that particular newspaper, and ended up reading the same article 3 times. If anyone had asked me to do an exercise on that article, I would surely have topped! The Auto taking us to our Hotel was quite for 5 minutes, and the Auto Driver with the lack of Music in the rather uneasy atmosphere switched on the Radio. And Bang! Teri Kaali Aankhiyon Se.. were the exact words. My mother in her anguish asked the Driver to switch frequency. He did. The Song may have changed, but I kept humming the song for the next half an hour. It is fun to irritate your mother like this. Reached the Hotel, and to the utter discomfort of my disapproving parents, the billboard opposite our Hotel, was attracting everybody’s attention with the posters of My Name Is Khan. Obviously, Mum, could not do anything about it. I laughed regardless of what either Dad or Mother, thought about that ‘silly little’ poster. These few snippets from my two day tour go onto prove the Buzz that My Name Is Khan has created all over the Country. But a fan being excited about his Screen Idol’s next movie, compared to that of the normal man are obviously two different and contrasting things.

The top most thing on a Shahrukh Khan’s fan’s mind is My Name Is Khan. While the film occupies it’s position in a normal person’s mind just a passing thought. But whatever it may be, the film is at least there on the minds of so many people with the intense publicity garnered by it through the shameless and insane protests of the Shiv Sena against Shahrukh Khan, and the film. The media made a big issue out of it, rightly or wrongly, I don’t know. But whatever it is, My Name Is Khan came out trumps, but that fact cannot undermine the hurt feelings of Shahrukh Khan. But his fans, his admirers, and any forward thinking person residing in any part of the world, supported him (not necessarily his views). His stand for his own individuality made us all aware of the person Shahrukh is.

While I was holidaying, I had always made myself aware of the fact that the Advance Bookings for the Film will be starting on Sunday, the 7^th of February. But, sadly I did not have any internet connection to make use of when I needed it the most.  I got a Mobile Alert from kyazoonga.com stating that the Booking has been officially opened. I wanted to get the tickets there itself. But I couldn’t. I had to wait. A long 11 hours. Now that I am returning, I asked a stranger for his laptop, to check the seat availability for the first possible show on the 12^th. To my dismay, I saw only one ticket was left. I had to get it. But the last possible mistake I would make is entering my Credit Card details in someone else’s Laptop. That would be like putting your leg in the axe.

Anyway, I need to give the Laptop to it’s rightful owner.

8^th of February, 2010, 2:00 AM

Seeing the unavailability of tickets for your favourite Actor’s show could be the harbinger of a variety of feelings. He/She may be disappointed at not being able to catch the First Day First Show of SRK’s film. Also he/she may be happy that all the tickets have sold out in such a short duration. He/She may also be jealous of the people who will get to see the film FDFS (First Day First Show). But somewhere down the line, all these emotions jumble up, and you are left confused and dazed about the whole situation. But the love and craze for that Screen Idol increases manifolds.

I returned home an hour ago. And the first thing that I wanted to do was book the last ticket which was available. I was anyway, not hopefule of that seat being still available. But thankfully, due to a miracle it was (I mention ‘was’ ). I bought it. So, I will be seeing My Name Is Khan, the next release of my Favourite Actor, Shahrukh Khan, at Inox Elgin Road, Kolkata, 9:15 AM. That is quite an early show. I expect to give a few interviews for the First Reaction thingy. I also booked two tickets for my parents on Valentines Day for the same. I have no clue if they will be shocked by this gift. . I have to clear this fact that they do not hate Shahrukh Khan by any means. They just don’t like the fact that he sometimes becomes my priority. They think that studies should be the sole objective of a standard 11 student. Probably they are right. But I can’t help it. Shahrukh’s charisma just wins me over. He never fails to bedazzle me with his humour, grace, generosity, courage and will power.

It is hard to believe but when I switched on the TV, the first images that flashed on it were that of Shahrukh, appearing in Abhishek Bachchan’s show with the director of the film, and his long time aficionado, Karan Johar. The show was nice. Changed the channel to MTV, and the promos of Noor E Khuda were on Air. Isn’t this strange? It seems like Shahrukh won’t leave me alone.

The excitement that I have been in for the last 3 weeks or more, parallels the excitement of the release of Om Shanti Om, and the start of IPL Season 1. Every discussion related then and now, was and is about Shahrukh. Anyway, the excitement still has not been able to override my sensible side. There are certain fears and apprehensions going through my mind. First of all, what if the audiences do not ‘connect’ with the film? I am sure they well. But still, what if they don’t. You just don’t want to hear from a fellow member of the audience that the film did not live up to theirexpectations. You just don’t. The moment you hear someone utter those words, it pinches your inner feelings very brutally. With Shahrukh Khan, coupled with Kajol, comes a plethora of expectations, and unbound anticipation. Secondly, What if the Critics don’t rate the Movie too well? For a Movie of this genre, the ratings of the Critics are going to be very valuable. But I know that critics will love the film. I just know it. And even if they don’t, damn with those jackasses. Thirdly, what if some disruptions are caused by certain elements of the Society. Shiv Sena being my primary concern. I desire for a swift release of My Name Is Khan across Maharashtra. Fourthly, February and March are generally considered to be times of Examinations. The fans will come to the see the film regardless of their examinations, but the non-fans certainly will wait for a few weeks. That may not favour the second week’s collections favourably (The Fans will pull it through the first week). Fifthly, Will it be able to top the collections of Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots? Okay, however much we may deny it, but a fan of Shahrukh Khan will never like to see Shahrukh being toppled in the Grossing Arena by anyone, least of all, Aamir Khan. So every fan must be hoping that the weekend collections itself help My Name Is Khan to set some records both domestically and abroad. I am very sure it will create new benchmarks outside of India, but India does remain a doubt. Finally, will it falter with the over expectations from the millions of Shahrukh Khan Devotees? No, it won’t. His fans would love it any which way. This is one doubt I do not need to be worried about.

I asked my brother, and fellow Shahrukhaholic, Mansoor Zia about his expectations from the film. He replied, “I am not expecting anything but hoping for everything”. I guess this is what every Shahrukh Khan Buff must set in his mind. We should go into the theatre looking at My Name Is Khan just as a film, and hope to come out of it enriched with hope for humanity and with genuine love for all in our hearts and I am sure, Shahrukh Khan and My Name Is Khan will not disappoint us come 12^th of February, 2010.

With love,

Dipanjan

The start of my long standing admiration for SRK…..

First up let me assert that I am a 15 year old boy, and that is why I cannot say I have seen the phenomenal growth of the chirpy young kid from Rajinder Nagar, Delhi. He may not be a kid anymore but still is as young as ever, if that matters. But, what I will be writing is basically how I became an admirer of his and how he still continues to be my Idol from the Indian Film Industry.

Let me then, start, by narrating the incident which sowed the first seeds of his admiration in my mind. I have to say that the first film I watched of SRK in a theatre was Kuch Kuch Hota Hoi. I was a 5 year old toddler then, and therefore the scenes where SRK is shown mingling with his daughter, was especially appealing for me and it eventually made me feel that he was great with children. Although I was ignorant then, I realize now that KKHH kick started the process of me becoming a SRK admirer.

Another important factor which transformed me into a SRK fan, was that my Mother’s brother bears a striking resemblance to SRK, and that is why I always felt, during those days that I am interacting with King Khan (phrase coined much after then) at a daily basis. And this uncle of mine, also was an avid fan of SRK, so he used to watch every SRK film’s first, second and third show, which used to baffle me. I thought to myself, “Is Mama mad?” This feeling was not only limited to me, but, every other family member was quite worried as well, and that too strikingly enough.

My Uncle used to see all those movies alone, without anybody accompanying him. My study pressure was a lot less then and hence my Mother asked him to take me along with him to one of those shows. As scheduled my mom I went along with Mama, to the first day second show of Baadshah. Keep in mind I was all of 6 then. The special effects and all the gadgets and gizmos mystified me. Come on, what else did a six year old want then? Only some magic and a little dose of Scooby Doo. Huh!

Looking back now, I feel Shahrukh would have been better off without doing that film. But that’s just a personal opinion.

As I enjoyed the movie, my Mom thought that the Best way to keep me off my naughtiness was to send me to a Shahrukh film with my Mama. And I and Mama willingly agreed.

Then started a time when I saw a lot of his movies one after the other. They were Josh, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Mohabbatein and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I was undergoing the process of development then, so I think those movies have definitely influenced my being. But not as much as his later films. Will talk about them later.

Josh made me look at life with a rough attitude, although that feeling has vanished now, the film still remains one of my favourites.

Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani enraged in me a feeling of patriotism to which I had been to alien before that. And Lagaan, along with it that year turned me into a Patriot.

Mohabbatein started the engraving of a feeling of love for Music, which has multiplied manifolds in the next few years.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is perhaps the most important as far as influence is concerned. My parents have never been the same for me again. I look at them with a lot more respect and love and a feeling of togetherness has also shown up in me.

I will continue with this and how SRK’s life and times have predisposed in me and has left in me a deep-seated mark in my mental and emotional set up of life, as a whole, in my next few posts.

Bye,
Dipanjan