Adil Najam
(UPDATE: You can view this movie here).
Shaib Mansoor’s feature film Khuda Kay Liye: In The Name of God is to be released in Pakistan on July 20, 2007. There is great buzz about it; as there should be.
Regular readers know how much respect, even reverance, I have for Shoaib’s work. For me he is one of the single most talented Pakistanis I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
Indeed, one of the single most talented Pakistanis ever.
As we have written before, he may also be the single most under-rated Pakistani artist, since his contribution to TV music, to TV drama, to TV comedy, TV stage shows and to popular music remains unknown to many; too many.
I have not seen the movie myself yet and have been hearing about it from a number of people - including some directly involved - for quite some while. The promo clips are now available on YouTube and - no surprise - the quality of cinematography, of artistic composition, of music, of attention to detail all look great. Typical Shoaib Mansoor. Of course, how the whole package comes across remains to be seen. This is, of course, his first feature film but he is already a master of each of the genres in a movie and his long plays (like Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) must have trained him well for this.
To me, of course, the story is Shoaib Mansoor. For others, however, there are other draws. The cast includes Lollywood superstar Shaan, Bollywood maestro Naseeruddin Shah, Iman Ali (who is PTV’s Abid Ali’s daughter and was in Shoaib’s Anarkali music video), and other notables. But the real story here is the story. Or, rather, the topic of the story.
The film has a wonderful and wonderfully rich website, and according to the synopsis posted there:
The film is about the difficult situation in which the Pakistanis in particular and the Muslims in general are caught up since 9/11. There is a war going on between the Fundamentalists and the Liberal Muslims. This situation is creating a drift not only between the Western world and the Muslims, but also within the Muslims. The educated and modern Muslims are in a difficult situation because of their approach towards life and their western attire. They are criticized and harassed by the fundamentalists and on the other hand the Western world sees them as potential suspects of terrorism just because of their Muslim names. This paradox is resulting in great suffering for a forward looking Muslim.
This paradox of the divided society is, of course, a constant theme of ATP too. It is always a controversial subject here and will be much much more controversial for Khuda Kay Liye. It is, despite the controversy, a topic that we as a society have to confront. Thoughtfully and seriously. Since I have not seen the movie I cannot say how he has treated the subject, but based on his track record if there is anyone who has the ability to deal with this difficult issue sensitively and without turning things into slogans, it is Shoaib Mansoor. All the more reason to watch the movie and refrain from judging it in advance.
But there is another important angle to this too. GEO is promoting the movie as a ‘revival’ of Pakistan cinema. As a long time fan of Pakistani cinema, I certainly hope it is. Again, if anyone can do this, Shoaib Mansoor can.
I saw a post today in Metroblog Lahore that made me think that he just might. It was not about this movie, but about a new very modern movie house opening in Lahore. I have long believed that the reason Pakistani cinema declined is not just because of the movies, but also because of the state of movie houses. Well, this new theatre - the DHA Cinema - is quite something.
With tickets at Rs. 250 and Rs. 500 it may be pricy, but from the pictures at the site, it is clearly something that could attract a lot of people simply for the theatre experience. Interestingly, this theater also opens on July 20, and one of the movies it is opening with is Khuda Kay Liye. Coincidence? Probably not.
I must confess that I have been planning to write this post for nearly two weeks now. I had originally thought of calling it something like ‘The Other Lal Masjid Story’ simply because Abdul Rashid Ghazi had taken an interest in this movie. According to Daily Times (July 3, 2007):
Lal Masjid has demanded a ban on a yet-to-be released movie, Khuda Kay Liye, declaring it blasphemous… “The film is against Islamic norms and traditions and is being released on a private TV channel without prior approval from a censor board. We won’t allow this,â€? said Abdul Rashid Ghazi, the Lal Masjid deputy mullah, who did not mention his source of information about the movie. He said he would not object to the movie if ulema approved it. He demanded that the government form a board to review the film. “The government will be held responsible if the film is released without being censored,â€? he said.
I had not understood then, nor understand now, whether his source of objection was the subject matter, the fact that it has an Indian actor in it, or a statement of support for the Censor Board. I guess we will never really know. I do know, however, that it is bound to be controversial for same for at least two of those reasons. As for myself, I will reserve my judgement until after I see the movie. But anything from Shoaib Mansoor, and anything on this subject, I do want to see.
Shoaib has certainly started a thought process…..and thought process is something Mullahs don’t appreciate for obvious reasons. Their reaction is understandable.
For some it is a threat to their delusional ghettos and an illegal intrusion to their thoughts, for others it is a platform, an excuse, an advocacy to their insecurities of action, an explanation for their fragile moral grounds to settle in. But I don’t want to think of this movie in these terms as they are creating rifts in society and regardless of the real intentions of the stakeholders involved, this rift is one thing that is breaking our society apart.
I must say its a really very good story good effort by Shoaib Mansoory I am shocked to see Mula’s involvement in the movie they want to ban this movie but they can see all indians and Pakistan blody movies with Fazool Dances and all but If you are a muslim YOU must see this movie on such a touchy topic and we need that kind of movies to Show THAT WHAT IS A MUSLIM
I just want to say thank you to Shoaib bhai for his marvelloues job. I watched his movie with fifteen other family memebers. When I was watching this movie I have tears in my eyes because whatever he showed in this pictures is exactly going on these days.
The subject of this movies is really important and the concept of extremism is quite clear.
I was also happy to see so many families in the cinema. This is our first time that we all family members went together to watch a Pakistani movie.
Thank you once again Shoaib bhai. We really need movies like this one.
May Allah bless you always. Best of luck!
Khola
I really liked the movie. Shoaib Mansoor is one of the most talented person in Pakistan.
Shoaib Mansoor gave Pakistani TV classic dramas like “Sunehray Din”, “Alpha Bravo Charlie”, and now this movie “Khuda Kai Liay” is a big move from him.
Finally for all the western Pakis Khuda Kai Liye is available online …found this on the blog here:
looking forward to it on the weekend !
Update on court petition against screening of KKL:
From Daily Times
Asslam-0-Alekum
Well, After reading a lot against Islam and the God’s message, I could easily declare that all Muslims those are against Islam are Munafiq, as we wants the Islam in our own way, more like Christianity, like Sunday religion there should nothing to do all the day or go 5 time to Masjid or fasting for a month incase of having it just for the name, although I’m not a good Muslim, I would like to say Shoaib Mansoor or all his fans that JJ is not a confused man but all who claimed him are so confused.
They don’t know what they are doing instead of spiting the poison against Islam.
You can see that all the Musician, artist, dancers and actors are so rich but not rich from hart, they have smile on their face but have wounds in heart they have peace in their outer shell but there is a battle behind the shell that what is wrong and what is right.
I would like to suggest all of you to ponder in Quran and research in Islam instead of believing on such nonsense stated by non Muslims as well as the so called Muslim, all of you have to do just recite the Quran with translation (but please be careful about the Javed Ahmed Ghamdi’s , Qadiyani’s and Shia’s Followers translation ) then all of can easily understand what Islam says and what Quran says,
May Allah Bless all of us and keep away from those for whom Allah ha Decided not to Bless.
Aameen