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.
I totally agree Karim.
An ‘adjustment’ in this case is pointed out in the Dailytimes article quoted above. The KKL folks claim that Dawood was a good singer as a backing of their support for music in Islam.
This statement indicates the lack of such a general islamic knowledge that The Message was brought slowly and gradually to humanity and each prophet before Mohammad pbuh was designated to a particular time for a particular community. So was Dawood AS. When Islam came, the final evolution of the religion as brought by the Prophets was sealed, the religion announced ‘complete’.
So quoting what previous prophets did as a claim that music is valid in Islam holds no water. Its all about who one considers to be an authority, in Islam, thats Mohammad PBUH superseding all the previous ones.
Ill again say that even I can come up with better arguments in favor of music than Shoaib Mansoor’s. I dont give a damn about the movie, its just a ‘flick’. What I am worried about is that when laymen use their power to influence masses, things get ugly.
This is what the hardliners did in Lal Masjid, their effects are far more obvious. KKL is also in the same category albeit of a different view. So are several governments including our own.
And I really cracked up when I read statements kay yeh movie aap ko sochnay par majboor kardegi…
Compare Shoaib Mansoor with Mustapha Akhand, who was not an hardliner either, an Arab American who socialized in Hollywood yet made two movies, The Message and Lion of the Desert which besides being authentic, made a point without radically making any ‘adjustments’.
i heard that some one has taken a stay against the showing of KKL in the supereme court because it is supposedly blasphamous.
is that true ??
and if the supereme court is seriously considering entertaining this appeal then it should also consider my maids appeal because her husband beats her up. oh while it is at it , lets all go to the supereme court every time some thing small crops up and we dont get justice.
what else is the highest judicial authority there for other then telling the executive to provide free passage to the family of a person killed in crossfire , who by the way was considered by many as the sole one responsible for the slaughter of so many innocents.
Atif: You have raised a good point about the Freedom of expression in Islam…
What do you mean by Adjustment in teaching??
I also believe that senseless adjustments in teaching cannot be allowed at the same time I cannot agree with the rigid interpretation – Read (Literal interpretation) of Quran. We say that Quran’s message is universal and for all times to come. This means it leaves room for interpretation and use of intellect.. If something is written in Quran and you have an interpretation from a 12th century scholar, Islam does not ask you to limit yourself to that interpretation.
Iqbal once rightly said: “One cannot comprehend Quran fully if it is not revealed on him just as it was revealed on Prophet (PBUH).” –
Our society needs Moderation badly (I am not talking about imported moderation or the enlightened moderation as espoused by Musharraf) but there is no denial to the fact that the malaise of fundamentalism has badly infected our society…
Even if he sang or if anyone sings… Does it hurt u ???
Atleast a song if harmless compared to the sermons filled with hate (like the ones given by Lal Masjid maulvis) ….
Everyone has a right to his/her own point of view.. Why do you want to impose your own Islam on others??
Ibrahim I meant to say that NEGATIVE Propaganda will bring closer, not movie.
We should stop using technology, as it gives rise to evil
Kamran,It’s your own made statement as no religiously inclined person ever made such statement.
you like many others using technology, what innovative thing we have developed yet that could be helpful for Pakistan? You rather should make a visit of Ministry of Science and Technology & HEC where corrupt people are misusing funds/grants which were given by UN and other orgs to create scientific awareness and education in Pakistan.
Speaking of argument that Prophet David(AS) used to *sing*, its a Bohtan on a Prophet. Dawood’s voice is as famous as beauty of Prophet Jospeh(as) or Kingdom of Prophet Solomon(AS).
David(AS) used to read Hamd of Allah just like we muslims read Hamd and Naat today in certain fashion. That can’t be called singing anyway. Plus it’s all mentioned that all old shariats of Allah’es messengers were canceled and till Qayamah only Shariat of Mohammad(saw) is applicable. What was done in past isn’t applicable anymore. Even 2nd appearance of Jesus(as) will be as a Ummati of Muhammad(saw) rather as a founder of Christianity.