Interpersonal Communication in My Name is Khan - Essay Example

Introduction Interpersonal Communication can be described as the specific process of developing and sharing meaning between the individuals who are actually interdependent and have a strong relationship between them. In interpersonal communication skill people should have some knowledge and information about each other. This communication process also can be defined as the non-verbal and verbal interaction between two interdependent people. This particular essay will discuss about a popular movie named “My Name is Khan”. The essay will discuss about the interpersonal communication skills of the character named “Rizwan Khan” that was acted by Shah Rukh Khan in the film “My Name is Khan”. There are several aspects regarding interpersonal communication skill and its characteristics can be learned through this essay. Moreover, the study will determine the link between Rizwan Khan’s characteristics and characteristics of interpersonal communication skill. Discussion It is important to identify the characteristics and importance of interpersonal communication before linking these aspects with the above mentioned character in the film. Interpersonal communication generally occurs between two different individuals. Interpersonal communication process generally takes place within a relationship and it generally evolves within the relationship. This particular communication process generally defines and negotiates the relationship between two individuals. Interpersonal communication process can be identified in everywhere. Most importantly it can improve the relationship between two individuals. Moreover, effective interpersonal communication process has the ability to improve the health of participated individuals. Ethics, adaptability, empathy, cognitive complexity and self-awareness can be considered as the competence of interpersonal communication process. Interpersonal communication can be categorized into two different types of communication processes, such as verbal communication process and non-verbal communication process. Rizwan Khan is the central character in the movie “My Name is Khan”. His communication process can be considered as appropriate example of an effective interpersonal communication skill of an individual. In this film, Shah Rukh Khan plays the role of Rizwan Khan. It is important to know the character before determining the interpersonal communication skills of Rizwan Khan. Rizwan Khan was suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome. According to the characteristics of this syndrome, Rizwan Khan could not express his feelings or emotions through speech. But, he is quite intelligent comparing to pother individuals of his age. He has the ability to solve complex things quite easily and comfortably due to his high intelligent quotient. In this particular film, the character Rizwan Khan was harassed and hackled by several individuals. But, his sense for humanity, ethics, love and belongingness helped him to get admired by entire world. It has been mentioned earlier that, interpersonal communication can be divided into two parts, such as verbal and non-verbal processes. The movie is described neither as a terrorist nor as an agitator but it simple describes the behavior of character which is weak and unable to express. In the film called My Name is Khan, the character named Rizwan Khan highly depended upon the non-verbal communication processes under the interpersonal communication skill due to his disease i.e. Asperger’s Syndrome. Rizwan Khan had the ability to understand everything, but lack of ability to express something through speech. Facial expression and specific activities to respond to some actions also can be considered as one of the characteristics of non-verbal interpersonal communication process. Rizwan khan cannot feel good under disturbed noise. Some unusual activities also create problems towards him. In addition to this, his unnatural reaction to the yellow color can be considered as his non-verbal interpersonal communication skills. His mother, brother, sister-in-law, wife and son knew about these characteristics. Therefore, it can be stated that he is successful to communicate with his friends or relatives through his signs, symbols, expressions and gestures. It is important for an individual to maintain ethics and transparency in the interpersonal communication process to send a clear message to other individual or a receiver (Wood 332). It is clear from the movie that Rizwan khan is an honest person. In addition to this, consideration of strong ethics in communication process helped him to become popular among his friends, well-wishers and relatives. He is quite soft in his heart. Moreover, he cannot imagine wrong or unethical things about other individuals. Lack of understanding wrong doings of other individuals can be main disadvantage to make new friends. But because of strong ethics Rizwan Khan used to make new friends. These characteristics of Rizwan Khan helped him to make others understand about his feelings, emotions, attitudes, thoughts and behavior. My Name is Khan provided a strong message that humanity is way above the religion., The character Rizwan Khan decided to travel a long journey for his beloved wife and his son to meet the President of the United States of America to tell that despite being a Muslim, he and his entire family is innocent and they do not have any kind of connection to terrorist activities. During this particular journey, he has to face several difficulties and troubles. But, his strong willpower and honesty helped him to meet his objective and goal. In addition to this, he helped the Georgian community fight against the devastating Hurricane Katrina. Due to his support and humanity, several people survived. Slowly and gradually, people of all cultural and religious background started to know about Rizwan Khan and his heroics. He was alleged that he has some connection in the terrorist activities as he decided to meet the president of the United States of America. But, his honesty, humanity and innocence prove each and everybody wrong. It is clear from above mentioned story that, his actions, responses, activities and ability to respond to some issues non-verbally helped him to maintain his effective interpersonal communication skills. Now, his characteristics and communication skills can be linked with the coursework, i.e. characteristics of interpersonal communication skills. It has been identified in this movie that tension among the Muslims increased right after the incident of 9/11. However, some individuals were responsible behind this incident. But, each and every Muslim was treated badly in this film due to same religious background. Rizwan Khan’s activities during and after the devastative 9/11 can be considered as the example of effective leadership activity in which he tried to ensure that humanity can win over the religious and cultural barriers that were increasing within the country. Rizwan Khan has maintained strong ethics in his communication process throughout the movie. In addition this, he maintained honesty and strong adoptability in his non-verbal interpersonal communication process. However, it is true that the character has the competency of self-awareness, empathy and cognitive complexity in the interpersonal communication skill, unless he could not send his message properly and transparently to the entire community and the President of the United States of America. The main character of the movie “My name is khan” is Rizwan Khan has Asperger’s syndrome. This disorder creates issue for people to understand nonverbal communication. But Rizwan khan was excellent in certain areas. Rizwan khan used to have low self-monitors which is behavioral reaction same regardless of the different situation. People with his disorder don’t understand people or just can be rude but they are often intelligent. All the communication characteristics of the movie which are nonverbal and verbal are discussed in the course work. Rizwan khan has the ability to understand the changes in the surrounding but lacks express it. Touching is one important part of nonverbal communication to communicate and create affection. When he is disturbed with some unusual activities wife holds his hands to make him calm and adjust to the situation. Due to the disorder Rizwan khan lacks self-awareness. This leads to reluctance of self-disclosure. But with the help of his wife Rizwan khan used to disclose about his feelings. Each and every individual has the ability to take part in the communication process. But, it is highly important for an individual to maintain transparency, ethics and honesty in the communication process to enhance the message sending and receiving activity. Rizwan Khan would have been failed to meet his developed goals and objectives if he did not maintain honesty, self-awareness and ethics in the communication process. Physical or mental disability cannot stop an individual to ensure an effective interpersonal communication process if the individual has a strong sense for ethics and ability to send a message through the communication process. It can be either verbal or non-verbal. But, it is highly important to avail the integrity, desire and strong will to convey the message properly through any activity. Conclusion It is clear from above discussion that Rizwan Khan was succeeded to maintain strong relationship with the entire community and society of the United States of America through his effective interpersonal communication skills. It helped him to prove himself honest and innocent. He has the ability to express his feeling and emotions through the non-verbal interpersonal communication process. In addition to this, his honesty, strong ethics, desire, and love and belongingness for others helped him to convey his message to others in the society. Therefore it is proved that, effective interpersonal communication skill of Rizwan Khan help him to win the hearts of millions of Americans. Work Cited Wood, Julia. Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. Read More