My recent interactions with people in Malaysia and Indonesia made me realize how strongly the Bollywoodmania virus had managed to infect the masses in these countries as well .
Invariably, the first comment that everyone made upon discovering my nationality was ... Shahrukh Khan, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. While back in India my friend really had to jog her memory for the movie (KKHH), the movie is very much alive in the hearts and minds of these Malaysians and Indonesians. Young Indonesian boys would start singing the song "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' when I passed by and with bright, sparkling eyes ask me if my name was Kajol. I would be questioned on whether I had ever met Shahrukh or Kajol. Then they would try to beat each other on the number of times they had watched the movie. I was infact repeatedly tortured with the narration of dialogues from the movie. In excited tones, I would be informed of the local theatre in their city that screened Indian movies
A young Indian owner of a restuarant in Bali while expressing deep gratitude towards the movie and the actor shared how the movie had changed lives for thousands of Indians settled in these parts. Prior to the movie, Indians were looked down upon with condecension. However, the movie had single-handedly transformed the image of the average Indian from that of an intruder or an illegal immigrant to that of a romantic, charming hero personified by Shahrukh Khan in the movie. Indeed, many young girls confided in me that they wished to be wooed by a romantic Indian boy.
I have never ever been a fan of Shahrukh Khan or of movies like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. But I guess the experience changed my entire perspective and I am now hungry for more of this kind. . I confided in my fellow traveler, "maybe its time for our country to be rechristened as Shahrukstan or Kuchkuchstan.What diplomacy cannot acheive , Bollywood surely can."
