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FILM REVIEW
KHUDA KE LIYE – IN THE NAME OF GOD – THE BEST PAKISTANI FILM
BY: SHAHEEN RAAJ
‘Khuda Ke Liye’ – (‘In The Name Of God’) a Pakistani film directed by Shoaib Mansoor has finally been released in India and winning a lot of critical acclaim but sadly enough it has not been patronized so much by the Indian audiences. Yet all is not lost as by sheer word of mouth publicity it is gaining popularity day by day. No doubt the film has won all the laurels, plaudits and bouquets in lieu with a standing ovation in all the global film festivals. Indeed it is an aptly saluted tribute for our neighboring country Pakistan. This 170 minutes movie in Urdu language with English subtitles had kept the festival audiences spellbindingly hooked to their seats. Now it is the turn of the Indian cine goers.
A word about the debutante director Shoaib Mansoor! He has been rated by global critics as one of the most influential figure on the Pakistani showbiz scene. Shoaib Mansoor was first spotlighted in the starry limelight with his Pakistani TV shows like ‘Alpha Bravo’, ‘Charlie’, ‘Sunehre Din’, ‘Gulls & Guys’ et al. Apart from being a director in his own right for the small screen arena he has also successfully dabbled with penning lyrics and screenplay writings for all his theatre productions directed by him albeit in tandem with Junaid Jamshed of ‘Vital Signs’ live band. The chartbusters amongst them being ‘Supreme Ishq’, ‘Dil Dil Pakistan ’, and ‘Aitebar’. Lastly he has been awarded the Presidential Pride of Performance and Sitara – e – Imtiaz conferred on him by the Government of Pakistan.
So what is the film ‘Khuda Ke liye’ (‘In The Name Of God’) all about? First things first! It clears a lot of orthodox and fundamentalist myths, the views of the religious fanatics pertaining to all religions in general albeit Islamic religion in particular. The most pertinent highlight of the film is the courtroom scene wherein Naseeruddin Shah appears as Maulana Wali. He quotes the Koranic scriptures with reference to its exact verses, which belies all the falsity of a women’s right to marriage & divorce, the young generation’s rights to religious followings. A true blue Muslim man need not always be dressed in a typical Salwar - Kameez attire or sport a long beard. If in spite of following all the religious doctrines, which includes the Haj Pilgrimage, he has not cleansed himself from within then he is a perfect sinner. An apt eye opener for Gen X. The same holds true in case of a woman’s hijab (veil). And last but not the least is that no one is a born terrorist. It is the religious Maulanas who waylaid the innocent young man for Jihad (warfare) and term it as its all ‘Khuda Ke Liye’ (‘In The Name Of God’).
In brief ‘Khuda Ke Liye’ (‘In The Name Of God’) outlines the story of two brothers Mansoor (Shaan Ali) and Sarmad (Fawd Afzal Khan) living in Lahore. They aspire to be musicians and form their own band. But things go topsy turvy when Sarmad’s extremist friend Sher Shah (Hamid Sheikh) introduces him to Maulana Tahiri who compels him to be a religious fanatic. He forces him to denounce the music, give up his jeans clad attire, grow a beard et al. Once again I would like to mention that Maulana Wali rightly says in the court, ‘Deen (religion) mein dadi (beard) ho sakti hai, lekin dadi mein deen nahin!’ Meanwhile Mansoor & Sarmad’s Uncle Humayun, who was living in London with his live in Gori mem and a daughter Maryam aka Mary (Iman Ali), comes to Lahore with his Daughter as he wants to prevent her from getting married to her Gora British boyfriend Dave. He tries to get her married to Mansoor who flatly turns down his request. Next he conspires with Sarmad and requests him to help him ‘Khuda Ke Liye’ (‘In The Name Of God’). He takes Sarmed and Maryam to a remote village in Afghanistan and in connivance with Maulana Tahiri he gets them forcibly married and then deserts (Pun Intended) them. All efforts of Maryam to escape from there are foiled by Sher Shah & Sarmad. And one day when Sarmad forcibly exercises his conjugal rights Maryam becomes pregnant and resigns to her fate.
On the other hand Mansoor lands up in the United States of America to study music. He meets Janie (Austin Marie Sayre) in the same music class. The two of them gradually fall in love and get married in a civil court. It turns out to be the day of 9/11 (Of the twin tower blasts fame). On the wedding night itself Janie is made unconscious by chloroform & Mansoor is dragged to a dingy prison cell. Out there he is tortured so much that he turns lunatic. He is thrown later in an asylum. Meanwhile Maryam gives birth to a baby boy and also succeeds in conveying a message to her Uncle who comes and rescues her and takes her back to Lahore. In Lahore Maryam files a case against her father & her husband Sarmad for ruining her life by getting her married forcibly. This proves to be the turning point of the film. Maryam wins the case yet as an after thought she forgives her husband and goes back to live in the village of Afghanistan minus her husband. Mansoor, still in his lunatic condition, in lieu with Sarmad returns to their family home in Lahore.
Finally one can only say that this film ‘Khuda Ke Liye’ (‘In The Name Of God’) has already proved to be a morale booster, an upliftment for the, of late, sagging Pakistani film industry. Shoaib Mansoor has shown his directorial brilliance in his maiden megaphone wielding of a feature film. The technical finesse is simply outstanding. Special mention must be made of its fusion of Sufi and Pure Classical music score by Khawar Jawad and Rohail Hayat. Besides art directors Jennifer Gerber & David Christopher Krause. Not to forget costumes by Ronald G Forsyth, Emma Potter and Kuba Zelazek. Performance wise Naseeruddin Shah takes a lead in the histrionics department closely followed by the Pakistani actors Shaan Ali as Mansoor, Iman Ali as Maryam & above all Fawad Afzal Khan as the teenybopper chocolate hero transformed into a typically bearded Muslim guy. He is just amazing & awesome. Not to be missed film.