I am not with SRK

For the past few days there has been a wave of support from the media intelligentsia for SRK and the release of his new film My Name is Khan. Most of this frenzy is being whipped by the amazing PR machinery that both SRK and his friend Karan have built over the past decade or so in mainstream media especially in the TV segment.

Though no sensible or a rational person would support ShivSena and their vandalistic tactics, but still the moot question does remain that why did SRK say what he had to say. SRK’s own Kokalta Knight Riders (KKR) got together with the other IPL franchises and took a unanimous call to not bid for any Pakistani player. This decision would have been taken atleast 48-72 hours before 19 Jan, 2010, the date of the IPL auction. The question to ask is why SRK in the first place agreed to be a part of such a decision, though subsequently he does seem to deny that any such pact was reached. However the press conference that IPL Chief Lalit Modi had 2 days after the auction suggests otherwise.

Most baffling is post the furore created of not having a single Pakistani player in the IPL, SRK choose to remain silent for a full 5 days before he realized his love for Pakistani cricketers and that they should have been chosen. Obviously in those 5 days SRK figured out that most of his movies directed by his one-time dear friend Karan Johar, have made more money abroad than in India particularly in UK and the Middle-east. And to be seen as a party to a plot to keep out Pakistani players, he risked losing a large section of his overseas audiences comprising the Pakistani Diaspora. And specifically in the case of MNIL where the pre-release buzz of the film is not very encouraging, it was a master stroke on part of SRK to make sure that he has a sizeable section of audiences in his pocket by this unique marketing strategy (Many cynics even point out to his detaining drama at Newark Airport as the start of the marketing campaign for MNIK). And in true Sheikh-Chilly style, the Shiv Sena fell into the bait and it made a drab looking film a rallying point for freedom of expression.

Now with everyone including BJP getting on to the bandwagon of supporting SRK against the Sena, SRK has in one stroke made MNIK the most talked about film this year and a very strong contender for a hit status at the B.O. Poor Shiv Sena has not only been outwitted by the master entertainer, but also by SRK’s close friend Rahul Gandhi.

As expectedly after the controversy has broken out, the film is expected to do record business in Pakistan. Already the Pakistani Diaspora in countries like USA, UK, and Middle-East are buying bulk tickets for the weekend to watch their ‘favorite’ hero who has stood up for them against the Hindu fundamentalists!

Also there has been a section of media (belonging to the Karan Johar camp) who have been tweeting vigorously on how timidly the people of Bollywwod have behaved by abandoning SRK in this ‘noble’ battle. They have been preaching on how Bollywood should come together to support SRK and have even cast aspersions on many other film personalities for not standing up to SRK. I want to humbly ask these journalists that how many times your beloved hero has stood up in unequivocal terms for either Mr. Bachchan when he was brazenly attacked by MNS or Amir Khan when his film was vandalized in Gujarat by the Modi brigade. Infact SRK did not have enough courage to testify in court against the underworld for their connections with Bollywood when the feisty Priety Zinta stood by her testimony.

Shiv Sena's sudden u-turn on the controversy has ensured that SRK can now expect a bumper opening for MNIK all across the globe. A job well done( as the Cliché goes, he can now have his cake and eat it too).

P.S. SRK had publicly expressed his displeasure on being detained at Newark and vowed never to return to America unless they respect his religion and status. However he was seen ringing the bell in the citadel of American capitalism and enjoying an American studio's hospitality