There are two types of promotion- good and bad promotion. The good one unites the people and brings happiness but the bad one spreads hatred, religious conflicts and violence in the society. This the only difference between good and bad promotion. Though it is neither a classical movie nor a DDLJ type hit but “My Name is Khan” has made history. Fact is that this film fell down in the very second week of its release. The movie was replaced by some old movies in the theatres at many places still this movie will be remembered for its promotion campaign.

MNIK promotion did not start in November and December. It started on 14th august 2009 in America when Shahrukh Khan was detained in New Jersey airport. It was Independence day in India. It was a holiday. Suddenly, a breaking news flashed in all the news channel that Shahrukh Khan was detained and humiliated in USA. He was on phone on our TRP hungry news channels. This is how the promotion of the film began. He took this opportunity to introduce the first dialogue of the Film- my name is Khan and I am not a terrorist. Suddenly our news channels were showing the protest demonstration (most of them were sponsored) in such a way as if America has attacked India. Security check up is a normal practice in USA. These kinds of incidences have happened earlier too with eminent people like George Fernandez, Babul Lal Gaur but this was never a breaking news. Incidentally, CNN news channel exposed SRK on the same day telling its viewer the real story that it was all promotional gimmick.

Many big companies are associated in the production of MNIK- Shahrukh Khan’s Red Chilly production, Karan Jauhar’s Dharma production and Fox Star banner. Overseas distribution rights of this film are with Fox Star. One must remember that Fox and Star are world’s most powerful media houses. They run many TV channels and popular newspaper. They have the best promotion teams as well and have direct contacts with big bureaucrats and ministers. The promotion team of MNIK was active throughout the world. They left no stone unturned to promote this film and ultimately got success whether by hook or crook. They new very well that anti-American film has good potential in overseas market. Anti-Amercian vibes are present in India, Pakistan and West Asia so this became another reason for the films success. Due to presence of some organization it is easier to create religious conflicts. These American company have done this before, this time also they were just cashing on their experience. They were associated with Deepa Mehta’s film Water. We are all aware how this film created controversy in this country. These company command unhindered media power. Its very easy for them to get space and time in Print and electronic media. One example of such power is the promotion of Slumdog Millionaire. The same very companies were assotiated with this film too. For the promotion of slumdog millionaire they planted a false story that father of one of the child artist of this film sold her in three lakh rupees. For the promotion of My Name is Khan, SRK had already declared that he will not be going to towns (like 3 idiots) to promote the film. He said that he is a magician and the world will witness that his promotion will be different. True, the controversy this film created is for everyone to see. At one strock the promotion team of this film fooled the political groups, media, ministers, government and the entire nation.

What was the need for adopting such a precarious promotional method? All the producers associated with the movie knew that this film will not make good business, because Karan Johar’s film ‘Qurban’ based on the similar storyline was a flop. So, in order to save MINK from similar fate an aggressive strategy was mooted. SRK’s and Karan Johar’s strategy is crystal clear. This film was produced in 50 crores and outside India the rights of this film were sold to Fox group in 90 crores. SRK and Johar were in profit even before the movie was released. Even if the film would have been a super hit, Mumbai could have given just 10 crores. The strategy makers of MNIK gambled on this 10 crores only. The calculation of the box office is very simple; even in worst of the worst situations too 4-5 crores can be earned in Mumbai. One need not have the mind of a mathematician to understand that whatever will happen in Mumbai will have an impact outside Mumbai. If Shiv Sena opposed the film in Mumbai and media can be managed properly then people will throng to the theaters to relish the film. This tricky game of promotion was played stupendously by the Fox-Star team. Star group has its channels in India’s every region and in all the languages. They have their hold in the newspapers too. Apart from this, for the promotion of this film huge amount of money was spent in the news papers and TV channels. On the day of release and before these news channels went allout to project this controversy as a threat to democracy, freedom of expression and national security. One can believe that these TV channels and news papers might be oblivious of this promotion gimmick and have done this just for the sake of TRP and marketing. Actually, this is the basic rule of propaganda. A successful propaganda is one in which people are used and trapped but same people will never know what they did and for what

MNIK will be remembered for the controversies between Shahrukh and Shivsena. The film was about to be realesed and a statement of SRK created havoc. He said that Pakistani players should have got chance in the IPL. This is a strange situation that SRK himself is the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders team in IPL. Why he himself did not choose any Pakistani player and later posed as saint and started giving statements in media. In this Shiv Sena got tricked. They jumed in the controversy opposing the participation of Pakistani Player in IPL. IPL matches have started but still Mr. Khan’s team donot have any Pakistani players. Who what was it? Why did he created that controversy? Was it not a gimmick?

In this turmoil Shivsena, Shahrukh-Fox, Congress-NCP earned the most out of it.Shahrukh Khan has proved that he is far better in terms of the promotion of the films as compared to Amir and Salman. The TV channels made the release of this film as a national festival. The statements of Shivsainiks were shown. The officers and ministers thronged to the places to see the security arrangements in front of the TV cameras. Everyone knows about the closeness between Shahrukh khan and Rahul Gandhi. That’s why the congress leaders of Maharashtra thronged to the halls to watch this movie.

This controversy earned the most profit to Shahrukh Khan and star fox.For the promotion of My Name is Khan, SRK had already declared that he will not be going to towns (like 3 idiots) to promote the film. He said that he is a magician and the world will witness that his promotion will be different. True, the controversy this film created is for everyone to see. At one strock the promotion team of this film fooled the political groups, media, ministers, government and the entire nation.

Tv channels projected the release of the film as a festival. The statements of the Shiv Sainiks were constantly shown. Unless the film became a hit the arguments and the reactions never stopped on the televisions. The minister did not miss to appear in front of the cameras while checking the security arrangements of the police force. Who doesn’t know the intimacy of SRK with Rahul Gandhi. Due to this very reason the congress leaders and the ministers went to the theatres to watch the movie without a fail. The activities of the Shiv Sainiks were constantly appearing as the breaking news in the news channels. The police force was roaming outside the cinema halls like bees. The controversy engrave to the extent that the state government decided to make the film hit as their moral responsibility, this was quite a shameful situation. The water went above the head when RR Patil himself went to the theater to watch the film. The way the Congress and NCP tried there level best to make the film a hit. Had they made similar efforts for the poor taxi drivers then perhaps the students and the taxi drivers of Bihar and UP would not have been beaten mercilessly in the public. Why Mr RR Patil did not take the pain of sitting in the taxis of the drivers from Biahr and UP?

In many states of the country the ambience of violence and terror, chaos in media, the attacks of Shivsainiks, the statements of the leaders of Hindustan-Pakistan, states chief ministers, Home minister and security system, arrest of more than 1500 people. This whole thing just happened due to Americas Company which compelled people to reach the theaters. Generally, Muslims are against America but this time they were trapped. They went all out to support SRK and American Companies. For this success Fox Star should be congratulated and We Indians should hang our head in shame.