Pakistani Film On Shahrukh Khan

Shahrukh Khan Ki Maut

(The death of Shahrukh Khan)

Daily Dawn's Review of Pakistani short feature film screened at Karafilm Festival 2005

Ehteshamuddin's Shah Rukh Khan Ki Maut, produced by Arjumand Rahim, premiered at Kara this year, left people dumbfounded and made them realize that obsession in any form could be harmful.

The applause after its screening proved that the director sent the message across to the people in a remarkable way. Not only because the ovation came from a house full of people who came there to watch a good film, but also because it boasted of brilliant direction, everyday situations, amazing dialogues, superb screenplay and remarkable acting by newcomer Tabraiz Shah in the role of a dreamy young boy.

In the film he plays Ali Murad, a die-hard fan of the Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan who collects every kind of paraphernalia associated with the latter. Not surprisingly, everyone calls him by the name of his favourite actor. His father and sister only bother him for money as he works in a motor garage owned by Ustad (Rashid Farooqi) where Saleem Mairaj (Aslam) and a handful of new actors also work.

For Murad, no news is worse than finding out that Shah Rukh Khan dies in the final act of Devdas. When he tries to get a haircut like that of Shah Rukh Khan, his father takes the money. A friend then lends him the desired amount, later found to be stolen from Ustad's safe and Murad is wrongly accused of theft. The end serves up an unexpected twist.

Rashid Farooqi's convincing histrionics and Saleem Mairaj's comedy also added colour to the story. There is an obsession in each one of us and this film depicted that in the truest form.

If short feature films like Shah Rukh Khan Ki Maut can be produced in Pakistan, why can't there be more? With so many TV channels and so many opportunities, one hopes that sense prevails among the TV producers who should learn a lesson from this film and set out for a future without copying senselessly from across the border.

by—Omair Alavi-Dawn-Images-18-12-2005

y r they killing him man . hope srk don mind

he is a humble and so full of himself...he wouldnt ming for sure...he would be happy that so many pl look up to him