The gleeful knight

Profile: Newsmaker

The iconic stallion-riding knight exerts a kind of mesmeric control over his warriors. ‘Divinity’ is but a step away as he slowly alights from the horse and finds himself amidst collective identities. The blurring of the boundary line between brand Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has almost taken romantic, epic proportions. Such is his charisma that anyone’s life, even yours or mine described in Shah-ruesque’s detail, could seem like a fairy tale.

Shah Rukh, the underdog from Delhi who went on to rule Bollywood, acted in over 70 films and tasted pinnacle of ‘pelf and power’. Yet the man had done less to lift his spirits; had the unbending, straight-armed gait of someone trying to prevent his clothes from rubbing against the sunburned skin. In a recent conversation with media, he excitedly speaks about the KKR win in Kolkata but he is often indignant, in a way that is linked to professional regrets and a period of tabloid notoriety, when an angry voice from the public ranted at him. The IPL victory has filled up the sense of emptiness in him, almost like a personal triumph. With an intense often, moving involvement KKR victory changed the flow of identification to the masses.

Shah Rukh embraced KKR like his misbegotten offspring and added to its stature, psyche with his passion and unrelenting effort. Nourished on SRK’s romance, the underdog KKR team can remain severely disciplined, keep doing what they have been doing, believe in themselves and fight together as a unit, say brand experts. While KKR has already usurped the number one slot, it now has a reputation to live up to, grow up and mature, say experts.

Shah Rukh’s exploits on and off the field can be likened with Roman Abramovich, the owner of the companies that control Chelsea Football Club, who was as passionately involved with Chelsea. Quite like SRK, he is also present at almost every game Chelsea plays and shows visible emotion during matches, a sign taken by supporters to indicate a genuine love for the sport. Interestingly, Abramovich’s success story is also that of an underdog from Komi Republic, then Moscow to his ascent as a multi-billion dollar businessman. Both the men are self-made, ruthless in their approach and passionate about their dreams. 

Shah Rukh had an entire generation at his command, delighted the teenagers with his cherubic smile, dimples and stammer. The first seeds of romance were often sown in the minds of youngsters from his performances in Dilwale Dulhania Le Ja Yenge or Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. His charm is unique, almost childlike all out there to win the world with his innocent mimicry and glee. Let us remember him as a cherub and forget his dark, plebeian twin.

meghnamaiti@mydigitalfc.com