Sha sha Shahrukh! Behold the King Khan... Review on Shah Rukh Khan

There are dozens of reviews written here on the Shahrukh Khan or SRK-approximately 46 on the person alone….so let me add my bit on him!

SRK, 41 yrs this year, was born and probably brought

up in Delhi along with a younger sister. He was extremely close to his mother, and apparently rues the fact that she couldn’t see the success that he has become now- the undisputed No.1 hero, in terms of the Box Office ofcourse.

He pursued an adamantly opposed Gauri. C, and married her before making a break in the Hindi film industry. Prior to his foray into the film world, he acted in ‘Fauji’ and ‘Circus’, and then came ‘Raju Bangaya Gentleman’! ‘Raju Bangaya Gentleman’ in 1992 was the first time that I had seen this actor, and I remember wondering if I had wasted my hard saved Rs.25/, (yes that’s how much a balcony seat cost at the time), to see a movie with such a corny title with an unknown hero who looked like he forgot to wash his face after waking up! I can’t say I enjoyed the film, which could partly be due to the fact that I don’t really like the too perky Juhi Chawla in her yellow dresses either! But I do remember finding SRK’s character endearing, where one feels bad for him being such a loser and wishing that everything works out for him. He still has that character in his personality I think, which makes one relate to him as an ordinary youngster who has worked very hard to get to where he has today, and so nobody maligns him for his enormous success.

Since RBG, he has done very well in movies like Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa with Suchitra Krishnamurthy, where one feels great relief when he finally finds somebody worthy to love after the obnoxious Suchitra. Darr, where one finally sees what SRK is made of, and Baazigar where SRK is paired with Kajol, the now legendary screen couple.

Then Anjaam- the movie was way to violent even for age groups beyond 50…with Madhuri Dixit, where one line at the end of the movie where she is hanging from a cliff, and SRK the villain desperately in love with her is hanging below her holding on to her leg, and she says “Mera jeena itna important nahin, jitna tumhara marna” will always stay in mind, infact I don’t know why I found myself repeating it long after watching the movie !! Anyway, after that Madhuri Dixit left her grip on the cliff, and they both died. I wonder if the Director was going through a particularly violent phase in his life because this move was a bit too much!

Then followed better movies such as Karan Arjun, DDLJ which probably made SRK No.1, then Pardes, Dil Se. KKHH, and the Karan Johar saga that still continues, Ashoka where he is over the top, but is fine because this Indian audience will accept SRK in ANY avtar. Followed by super sob K3G, which was a good movie to watch once, minus all the rona dhona, and Kajol’s histrionics. Is a little child singing the national anthem the only way to show ones ‘desh bhakti’ and patriotism?? One wonder’s, but we still stood up in awe and respect! Then the adorable older bro in ‘Main Hoon Na’-this movie had beautiful songs. Followed by ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’, where it was a real pity that Saif Ali Khan got to live instead of SRK! Although Saif was verygood in ‘DCH’ and ‘Parineeta’, but that’s another story J

Then came ‘Swades’ and the sweet and beautifully made ‘Paheli’, and by now even I’m a real SRK fan, this movie and Kishen the lovable ghost bowled me over completely…infact I now believe that he makes a better pair with the lovely Rani Mukherjee than the squeaky and spunky Kajol!

I have mentioned only the movies that I have seen of SRK and not properly in order either, so there must be many many films where he must have done commendable roles not mentioned here. Basically when one watches an SRK movie, they can be guaranteed of stellar performances most of the time, and generally a message attached, save your country from going to the dogs, or your dad is the best so respect him but don’t ignore love at that cost etc etc.

Fortunately for SRK, he tends to pair well with most heroines, be they Madhuri Dixit (of the Mera jeena itna important nahin, jitna tumhara marna” days), to Kareena Kapoor in Ashoka, Juhi Chawla-although am not fond of her, she looks fine next to SRK, ofcourse Kajol, Preity Zinta, Sushmita Sen though I feel she is too classy for our Indian hero’s and now Rani Mukherjee with whom he does magic onscreen!

SRK doesn’t need an item number to bring in the crowds for his performances, he requires 1 Karan Johar , 1 heroine who won’t steal his show, 1 or 2 strong messages to the youth of family bonding or patriotism or love, and 1 angelic role of an eternal do-gooder and voila! You have another SRK hit. Yet he makes us walk to the theaters and buy that 100/- ticket first day first show! (The idea for this last quote might be slightly inspired)

Add this movie magic to his personal life equation, which he portrays as a loving husband and father who is where he is because of his hard work, motivation and real life simplistic nature, and nobody in this vast country and out of it, will grudge him his success.

PS: Can someone please translate ‘important’ into Hindi as I seem to have forgotten the exact word in that dialogue between Madhuri Dixit and SRK on the cliff !! & do RRC!