(UPDATE: You can view this movie here).
We had a preview of the movie Khuda Ke Liye at ATP where we had posed a question whether Shoaib Mansoor will be able to revive Pakistan cinema? A probable answer comes from myself who recently got chance to see this movie. The record breaking Pakistani film Khuda Ke Liye has become my favorite film overnight- Hollywood inclusive. Or more accurately I should say, that there hasn’t been a film in the past that has moved and affected me in this way.
Given the standing ovation the film is getting in theatres all over Pakistan from rich and poor alike, one can safely say that I am not the only one. For one thing it is a uniquely Pakistani story, which could have only come out of Pakistan. To sum it up, it is about us – the people of Pakistan warts and all- take it or leave it.
The genius of Shoaib Mansoor was never in doubt for those who have seen his videos or for that matter the famous Alpha Bravo Charlie – the TV Drama on Pakistan Army. What I was unprepared for was the depth in his thought and the way he has managed to capture the Pakistani dilemma on screen. Ours is a complex and rich predicament which needs to be captured in all its nuances and appreciated in all its paradoxical colors. KKL did just that.
I went to the theatre expecting to see the same old liberal v. fundo arguments. There were those, but unlike how these arguments play out in “The Friday Times” and the “Nawai Waqt“, this remarkable film is fully conscious of its Pakistani identity and the strong Islamic component that forms part thereof.
At the risk of spoiling it for those who haven’t seen it, this is the story of two brothers, Mansoor (played by Shaan) and Sarmad (played by theatre actor/musician Fawad of EP fame) both musicians, brought in a well to do Pakistani family. Mansoor and Sarmad are torn apart by the latter’s increased involvement with a certain Maulana Taheri (based most probably on Maulana Sami ul Haq of JUI-S component of the MMA), who turns the soft spoken Sarmad into full fledge Jehadi.
Things are complicated when the brothers’ cousin Mary arrives from London to spend a few days with them, only to discover that she has been tricked by her father into coming to Pakistan to avoid her marrying her Non-Muslim boyfriend Dave. Meanwhile Mansoor leaves for Chicago to enrol at the “School of Music” there. In an epic that switches from London to Lahore to Waziristan to Nangahar Afghanistan to Chicago, these ordinary Pakistanis are increasingly faced with both internal and external conflict. And then there is September 11.
Shoaib Mansoor does not miss a beat, he does not leave any stones unturned. While all characters have more or less the same significance in this plot, it is Mansoor who is at the centre of it: Mansoor who is a proud Pakistani and secure in his Muslim identity, Mansoor who warns Sarmad against extremism, Mansoor who puts the best Muslim and Pakistani foot forward, Mansoor who is abducted by FBI in the middle of the night and beaten and tortured to a pulp, humiliated and abused for being a Pakistani and a Muslim. He is the contrast to Sher Shah and Maulana Taheri. But there are contrasts on the other side as well… Jenny who loves Mansoor for being Mansoor, his classmates who spontaneously join in when Mansoor performs his “music from Pakistan”, his African American professor… all stand in contrast to the American torturers of Mansoor.
The dialogue reaches a fever pitch in a court room in Lahore, where Mary is engaged in a prolonged legal battle. Enter the Bollywood star Naseeruddin Shah. He plays the character of a long bearded progressive Islamic scholar (probably based on Maulana Ahmed Javed and Allama Javed Ahmed Ghamidi of Lahore). In what would be the localised version of “Inherit the wind” Courtroom drama, he engages Maulana Taheri and his coterie in an argument on Islamic law and Islamic dress code.
“There is beard in religion, but no religion in beard,”
declares Shah, adding that
“Two men who did the greatest service to Islam in Pakistan, Mahomed Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal, did so without a beard and out of the so called Islamic dresscode, in western dress.”
It was on this line that the entire hall filled with applause. Islam – the universal faith – has no uniform. This lays the stage for the final scene- the most poignant scene of the movie, filmed in Lahore’s beautiful Wazir Khan Mosque– the scene which once again made a Muslim out of me. I’ll let you watch it yourself to understand what I am talking about.
As for the film itself, there seem to be a few technical glitches earlier on but they are easily forgotten. Iman Ali‘s performance as Mary or Maryam in the beginning is annoying and one finds her concocted British accent a little annoying at first. However it grows on you and one discovers the fullness of her effort- which is by far the best I have come across by a Pakistani actress. As for the music, those of you who have only heard Bandaya, you are in for a surprise. The film is as a whole an incredible musical experience. What is more is that you discover how aptly Shoaib Mansoor has placed his music in the various scenes. Indeed, driving back from Lahore on the motorway, I could recount/recollect every scene just by listening to the soundtrack.
This is a movie no Pakistani can afford to miss.
hi assalwalekum mr mansoor this is my second salam n salute 2 u sir orignly i m nepali n from nepal bt crntly im in doha qatar from last 3years n i m hindu but i respect each n every religions,sir u just did a great job u hae sucessfully gve all the answers to those who always asked only questions n try 2 forece their their rules,we all hope more like this from u thanks
hi this bharat all the way from doha ,first of all i just wann say many mnay thnks 2 mr mansoor who make such a wonderfull n great moview who itself is a answer for all the things which is happening all around the world,everybody is frustated by this kind of problem normally i used 2 watch only hindi movies n this is my first time i watch pakistani movies sir u belived me i watch this movie 32 times in one week so keep going ,
I finally got to see the movie last night. Wow! what a gutsy and daring topic to be dissected in front of such a mixed audience, culturally, religiously and educationally speaking. I live in the US and rarely have the time/desire to watch Pakistani movies but this one was recommended by a Bangladeshi cousin who asked if I had seen it.
I think the movie was excellent story wise, though lacking as most have pointed out in editing and acting in some places. The Chicago scenes could have been more real, as could the London “Goodenough College” I thought that was so generic. But it did touch my heart. It is the voice of so many educated Muslims, I will avoid the word “moderate” as it implies that there are many versions of the religion. The US interrogaters were not that bad, he reminded me of Larry King. The cussing was cool and original, the black music teacher was pretty credible too, that is as close as it gets to real classes here. Mansoors wife was a weak character. she should have been someone more “American” in spirits. And her voice did not match her playback singers.
Returning to the story, it was a masterpiece. The dual standards of our ‘dads” and their warped sense of redemption was real, so was the scene in the end when the mother is stroking the hands of her older son. The arguments offered by the part played by Naseer-uddin Shah were so touching.
But you know, I bet we have two groups of people, one that will hate it the other love it depending upon how they identify with the characters. But I think it was educational for non Muslims, I will show it to my class next semester (college students) and also recommend for teenagers.
Religion is about peace no matter which one, it is the interpretations that divide us, our “we are better than thou” attitude of ignorance that brings us so much sorrow.
Well done Mr. Mansoor, cheers to you…Juice only ;)
I congratulate Shoaib Mansoor and Pakistan film Industry Lollywood for making such an effort, I always had desire of watching the progress of my neighbourhood industry, as then my neighbour, my brother will be progressing. I think this film has made a start of revolution atleast in the minds of people living in and outside Pakistan, either belonging to or having any relation to Pakistan. This film and Bollywood film, “Black & White” have released very near to each other and somehow touches each other on some messages like of changing the minds of people of present age and their thoughts who have gone against Muslims especially of Pakistan and of Afganistan. The time has changed and soon media and these sorts of films will bring a right revolution.
I must congratulate Shoaib mansoor on presenting such an art, heart touching film and a big big film with so many locations, actors and messages.
hi ,
I am an indian.I saw the movie khuda ke liye, i think it was a sheer piece of brilliant directorial. Mr shoaib mansoor has justified his talent. i have seen his work for the first time & i want to see more of his new & previous work.The way he has addressed to the religious interpretation & misinterpretation is mind boggling, not only has he picked such a senstive & the need of the hour topic bur also the way he has justified the very esssence of it with his talent is worth applauding.Talking of religion whether hinduism or islam or anyother, i think being a young mind myself, i was always confused with what actually my religion hinduism says. Acc to my elders they say that woman are supposed to keep a fast called karvachaut for the long life of their husband as per our hindu epics, but why? today any logical woman may ask that if i am important for my husband as he is important for me then in that case we both should keep a fast & pray for each others long life.I dnt think there is any harm in doing that or that u r violating ur religion.According to ramayana god ram abandoned his wife sita as she stayed at ravan’s place & so she was considered impure , now this reflects that every hindu woman should take good care of her character. but how about men, ramayan was never interpreted in a way where it should also be taught that god ram sweared on getting married to only one woman , he said that one man should marry only one woman.but how many hindu men are honest to their wives & still swear to be a hindu. I think the whole point lies on how our religious books & epics are interpreted to our generations to come.As the director has shown in the movie that how the same quran was depicted in two different ways to the character played by fawad- one which made him wear jeans or wat ever he liked & sing & be a happy man, a good son, a good brother & a good human being and the other way which made him into cheating a girl & even raping her against her will.Now one can easily sense which way of following ones religion make one a better person. I think religion is a guide to man & his soul but blindly following it without actually understanding the essence of it as why it was said , who said it & under what circumstances is of no use.Every religion preaches love & peace& us to have humanity . I think the movie was awesome & it will touch every human soul of all religion & caste. I am planning to be a movie directo too, so having a flair for cinema , i am always hungry for art. Acc to me the director was brilliant. great screenplay, great visuals, good background music. The movie seemed authentic, the characters& their life seemed so natural.I think actor shaan acted real naturally. fawad enacted his characters diellema wid great brilliance. The only thing that i dnt like in the movie was actress iman ali, i think she was not meant for this role, unlike other actors who suited their characters and looked so natural, she looked like a typical movie actress & not her character maria. she was wearing makeup in afghan which was a loophole in the masterpiece. I am not trying to comment on her acting skill, but as from an audience point of view & director’s vision i would have not choosen her for this role , she was an out & out no no. Otherwise the movie was gr8& i wish to work with actor shaan & the director once i plan to make a movie.