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.
Nasir Nisar,
100% correct, I strongly support your views.
Adnan: “how can I say anything without seeing it”
….that never stopped you in the past, why start now ?
I would like to comment on the comments given by person named prophecy ‘Prophecy’.
I would like to tell you few things. Firstly media is printing Junaid Jamshed more because he is well known to people and the people listen more to those they know well…if you want your interviews to be published then get the right way…call a press coneference or write to newspapers…you will also be heard..the media cannot go to every house in PAkistan and ask every meneber to give their views….secondly what Junaid Jamshed said about his group was an aswer to a question about what he thinks about his group members that are they right and he answered right that they are doing wrong according to Islam….and if you say its not an honourable act then you tell me what is honour…comeon tell me….tell me…..Islam says to inform your close one’s and allert them if they are going wrong…but if they still don’t agree then leave them…that’s what he did….I would like you to give your comments on this….
I would like to give my comments here please….
firstly its good that after a long time someone has produced such a high quality movie with the name of Lollywood. its great. I was very enthusiastic about watching this movie. but after reading the story line i wish i could do something about it.
All of you…on this page….can you tell me how dare shoaib mansoor called Hazrat Dawood (AS) as a good singer in this movie…how dare he insult our respected prophet. How dare he say that Music is allowed in Islam…i can rightly prove it to you people that the only instrument allowed in Islam is Daffly and our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself said that “I have come to this world to destroy the instruments of Music”
Prohet Muhammad (PBUH) use to close his ears when ever he heard the sound of music. Its 100 % forbidden in Islam…it is us who can’t leave it because it has now become part of our very own blood. If we are at fault then we have no right to say that the wrong we do everyday is Allowed in Islam…my Brothers and sisters its Forbidden in Islam clearly. PLease don’t wrong yourself about it. This Shoaib has shown it has something which is the very part of Islam.
Secondly he says that Muslim marriage to a christian is allowed in Islam. Who are Christians.They are people Who believe in three Gods, God…Son and the holy ghost….three Gods see….and anyone who declares someone else as the sharer of Allah’s attributes is a Mushrik and Allah has said himself in Quran that i can forgive any sin but that of Shirk…..go look it yourself in Quran…..its written there clearly….then how can a muslim be allowed to marry a Mushrik….yes muslims can marry christians but after making them a Muslim….not the way this Shoiab Mansoor is saying…..Actually since Pervez Musharraf has come to power…many unislamic things have started in Pakistan…MR musharraf wants to make pakistan progress in the same way as Turkey did…as UAE and other arab states did…by selling their religion their Shariah….now in these countries there are mosques but the number of people praying there have decreased. why because we all Muslims want to be like Westerners…we want to make them happy…we want to copy them…..that’s the Ultimate truth…and i tell you what these are the signs of the arrival of the Dark Messiah Dajjal..because it is said that before his arrival muslims would start to go in the other direction and will get weaker….this is what is provided to us by Shoaib Mansoor and Pervez Musharraf…in our country there is music…dances and not Mr Musharraf has given license for Alcohol….good very good….i am not an extremist Muslim but I do know the basics of my religion….i am surprised at you people that you people are happy about the quality of the movie but not about its content…look at this mad man Shoaib Mansoor saying that he is sad over Junaid Jamshed….i say i am said over shoaib Mansoor about what he is promoting….he should produce movies free from Religious controversies….who is he to project his blasphemous views like that on People…and i am more surprised over the Pakistani Government who has not taken any action against him….i read somewhere about someone saying that in Pakistan we have Mujras,red light areas, and Fashion Industry…i agree we have that and as far as these things are damaging our people and our religious beliefs and i say that they should be stopped and the fashion INdustry should go on Islamic Lines….but this movie is gonna do more damage to young minds then anything else….Actually the problem is that only 5 % of the todays total Muslim population have really understood Islam in its true sense without any misconceptions and the rest are in astray.
can you people tell me that if we go back in the history of spain and read when it was under Muslim rule….in the whole world at that time it was only spain which had street lights in its cities..its was spain which had the best architechtural designs that europeans copied in those times…its was baghdad which hosted the world’s largest scientific libraries…..it was Ibn Sina a muslim who invented a lense and eye surgery…it was a muslim who laid down the foundations of the basis of an Aeroplane…it was a muslim who invented coffee…and they were more steadfast muslims then we are today….were they not successfull…were they not powerfull…it is said that if Hazrat Umar (RA) had lived for another century then there would not have been a single poor man in this entire world till the End of this planet…such perfection was there in this administration….he was so steadfast in Islam that it is said that Shaitan leaves the path where Umar goes once…was he not successfull…was he not powerfulll…then why do we call Islam today as the extremist religion….about Painting shoiab mansoor said that its allowed in Islam….yes its allowed but not the making of painting of other humans…its only allowed that we can make paintings of things other than humans…..now you all tell me what is this all…..Is this person Shoiab Mansoor a muslim or what….i always respected him bcz of the quality of his work but noy hate him most…..if he is not a good muslim then why is he doing this all…and most of alll i am angry on our president bcz of whom these kinds of people are being nurtured in this country….PLEASE I WANT YOU ALL TO GIVE COMMENTS ON MY THESE VIEWS….
Karim, share those references! how can I say anything without seeing it and why are you unable to say anything AFTER reading mentioned hadiths?