Salman Khan in 1989

Let me begin by acknowledging that some time ago, Daddy's Girl tagged me to do a post on my favorite Khan. As would anyone with good taste, I fully intended to do a post on my love for SRK in coordination with Beth’s suggestion that we Bollybloggers should write odes to the Badshah on his birthday, November 2. I only bring it up because without contest, Salman Khan was ranked as my LEAST favorite Khan.

Not much has changed after watching Maine Pyar Kiya except for the fact that I do feel the slightest twinge of guilt at dismissing Salman so completely before seeing the spectacle that was MPK. I can’t think of any better way to send the 80’s out in style! [Have you SEEN the movie poster?!]

Let’s begin with the opening sequence, a silhouetted Dirty Dancing simulation set to a tune overly reminiscent of Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called to Say I Love You.

I mean, after watching Salman do his best impersionation of Patrick Swayze on at least two seperate occasions, I had to cut the guy a break. So what if he stalks his ex-girlfriends and kills endangered species for fun--he can dance like a ballerina! So while he still holds last place on my list of Khans, it's only because everyone else is much more endearing, not because he doesn't have any redeeming qualities...

At times this film was a bit exhausting. I don't think it would have felt the same way in 1989. The "teens commit to love each other despite their parent's wishes" theme was probably pretty fresh back in the day but in 2006, it's pretty tired. The highlight for me was watching Salman, whose street creds far exceed the behavior he exhibited in this film. (Come on, just look at that baby face!)

Finally, I close with a message courtesy of our friend Totally Basmatic: Guns don't kill people, doves kill people. I guess that's what happens when doves cry...