Many people say that art imitates life; often times, movies are relatable because of their ability to mirror real-life experiences. The movie My Name is Khan exemplifies this phenomenon. Released in 2010, the movie tells the story of Rizwan Khan, a man accused of being a terrorist due to his Muslim faith. Throughout the movie, Khan encounters many struggles as he grows up and develops a family. The movie tackles many social psychology concepts through its events and characters.
Foremost, the movie explores people with autism spectrum disorders and the way they interact in the social world. The movie’s title character has autism, and plot points in the movie explore how this makes his life different. For example, in his childhood in India, his mother pays much more attention to him than his brother, since his brother is more independent and he relies more on her. The movie also explains that, in childhood, Rizwan has a special talent to repair broken items around the house; strong ability in a certain subject or trade is sometimes associated with autism spectrum disorders.
Next, attraction is also explored in the film. Once Rizwan moves to the United States, he meets Mandira, a hairstylist, and they develop a relationship. Ultimately, they become a good match; Rizwan is able to win over Mandira by listening to her stories and giving her thoughtful gifts, and Mandira understands and accepts that Rizwan is not as skilled in social situations. This relationship is healthy as well, because both parties care for one another equally.
Soon after they are married, discrimination becomes a driving force behind many subsequent events. After the 9/11 attacks, the Muslim Rizwan becomes the target of many discriminatory attacks. Though they are not Muslim, Mandira and Sam (her son from a previous marriage) become guilty by association. Mandira’s salon loses business, and Sam is bullied at school. This is just one example of the widespread discrimination Muslim people and their families faced in the years following the 9/11 attacks.
Sadly, the discrimination faced by this family comes to a tragic and traumatic end. The movie explores how trauma affects those involved, either as victims or perpetrators. One day after school, a group of athletic boys begin attacking Sam, leading to his death. Obviously, Mandira and Rizwan are both affected by this tragedy. Mandira falsely attributes the cause of Sam’s death to Rizwan; she believes that if Rizwan had not existed, the family would not have the problems that he has caused due to his religion. Rizwan sets off on a different type of journey, vowing to tell the president he is not a terrorist so people will stop treating him like one.
Finally, this film tries to take a positive turn and show how kindness can bring people together. On his quest to meet the president, Rizwan visits Georgia (where the president is expected to speak) and meets a family ravaged by a terrible storm and flood. He helps the family rebuild their community as the story gains widespread traction in the news media. People are now able to see how Rizwan, a Muslim person, can be kind and charitable toward others, a realization that helps to change the country’s preconceived notions of Muslims. Also, when Mandira sees what her husband has been doing, she forgives him and realizes that he is not the cause of the family’s hardships, leading them to reconcile.
Throughout this movie, social psychology themes contribute to the development of the characters and plot. This is only a small sample of what takes place in the movie; this film is an emotional rollercoaster filled with life lessons and social themes that anyone can stand to learn from.
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