Watching My Name Is Khan, has aroused curiosity in me about Asperger's syndrome. (My text books have a lot of syndrome names in them, and none of them kindle my interests though!) This syndrome is not new to us and it has been already well portrayed in Rain man (Raymond Babbit played by Dustin Hoffman).
Asperger's syndrome is a mild form of Autism. Though in Rain man, Raymond isn't picturised as a person with Asperger's syndrome, he is clearly potrayed as an autistic individual with characters so similar to Asperger's syndrome!
Watching the mannerisms and body language of Shah Rukh Khan, reminded me of Raymond babbit throughout the movie. (And seriously, MNIK would have been just "another" movie if the hero isn't an Asperger's syndrome patient)
And the movie is said to be an Indian adaptation of Forrest Gump. However, I didn’t feel so!
About Asperger's syndrome... It is named after the Austrian paediatrician Hans Asperger who first described this disease in his patient. People with it show significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests. There is relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development.
The linguistic problems include abrupt transitions, literal interpretations and odd pitch, loudness and rhythm. They appear to have particular weaknesses in areas of non-literal language that include humour, irony and teasing.
The patients enjoy social aloofness and show lack of interest in other people. They are characterised by an excessive preoccupation with a very specialized interest (such as timetables, just like Raymond babbit!)
Intelligence level can be normal or enhanced!
The cause is unknown and treatment is based on behavioural therapy
Written on: 22-2-2010
Posted on: 28-2-2010
Indeed Rain man is one of the superb movie.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't see any similarity between MNIK and Forrest Gump.Have you watched the movie Cast Away?
Yeah cast away is one of my all time favs! :)
ReplyDelete