It took 40 long years for a Pakistani movie to get a theatrical release in India. I was apprehensive when I went inside the auditorium to watch ‘Khuda Ke Liye – In the name of GOD’. I had heard about the pathetic quality of movies that get made in Pakistan. But this movie had done well at some film festivals, so though I was apprehensive I was hopeful that it won’t be as bad as ‘One Two Three’ which I had watched last week. Thankfully my hope won over my apprehensions.
It’s a wonderful and optimistic movie. Though it has been given a realistic treatment, not even a single moment in the movie is boring. It’s a brave statement on state of affairs in Muslim countries. The film maker has tackled so many issues in this movie without even one of them looking out of place. The film has three sub plots which are integrated very well.
First sub plot delves into issues of racial discrimination and racial profiling in the backdrop of 9/11 attacks. Some scenes in this sub plot are so gut-wrenching that the audience feels disgusted the way people from subcontinent are looked at in US of A. The protagonist of this sub plot personifies the liberal and educated Muslims. It is the story of his struggle against those who want him to pay for just being a Muslim. This part of the movie also showcases the highbrow attitude and cultural insensitivity on the part of US agencies. The transition of the mental state of the central character from I LOVE USA to I LOVE USAMA is a master stroke and the director has been successful in evoking right set of emotions from his audience.
The second sub plot is a statement on meaning of Jihad. This sub plot is very dramatic and provides a huge scope for histrionics. Naseeruddin Shah’s liberal and scientific outlook towards the interpretation of religious texts provides hope. The gullibility of the main lead in this sub plot just moves you. His journey from an aspiring rock star to an almost terrorist is beautifully depicted. This story presents the co existence of liberal and orthodox Muslim within Pakistan. It makes a comment on state of Judiciary there. The fact that Religion and Culture can’t be mistaken for each other comes to fore and as an audience you just want the rock star to come back home to his parents.
But the most powerful sub plot I found in the film was the one that revolves around the female lead of the movie. I say most powerful because the film maker has been brave enough to bring to fore the issues women are facing there right from forced marriages and marital rapes to lack of opportunities and education for them. Iman Ali’s (born and brought up in UK) struggle against the unknown world of hinterlands of Pakistan and her father’s hypocrisy, provides soul to the movie. The message in this sub plot is so subtly put that you take it back home. The film maker has even tried to give the solution to these problems. They might seem insignificant but they are in right direction.
This is a landmark movie and 40 years have been worth its wait. Technically it may not be the best product. But the movie has soul. Go watch it Khuda Ke Liye…
Copyright® CINEMAnia
It’s a wonderful and optimistic movie. Though it has been given a realistic treatment, not even a single moment in the movie is boring. It’s a brave statement on state of affairs in Muslim countries. The film maker has tackled so many issues in this movie without even one of them looking out of place. The film has three sub plots which are integrated very well.
First sub plot delves into issues of racial discrimination and racial profiling in the backdrop of 9/11 attacks. Some scenes in this sub plot are so gut-wrenching that the audience feels disgusted the way people from subcontinent are looked at in US of A. The protagonist of this sub plot personifies the liberal and educated Muslims. It is the story of his struggle against those who want him to pay for just being a Muslim. This part of the movie also showcases the highbrow attitude and cultural insensitivity on the part of US agencies. The transition of the mental state of the central character from I LOVE USA to I LOVE USAMA is a master stroke and the director has been successful in evoking right set of emotions from his audience.
The second sub plot is a statement on meaning of Jihad. This sub plot is very dramatic and provides a huge scope for histrionics. Naseeruddin Shah’s liberal and scientific outlook towards the interpretation of religious texts provides hope. The gullibility of the main lead in this sub plot just moves you. His journey from an aspiring rock star to an almost terrorist is beautifully depicted. This story presents the co existence of liberal and orthodox Muslim within Pakistan. It makes a comment on state of Judiciary there. The fact that Religion and Culture can’t be mistaken for each other comes to fore and as an audience you just want the rock star to come back home to his parents.
But the most powerful sub plot I found in the film was the one that revolves around the female lead of the movie. I say most powerful because the film maker has been brave enough to bring to fore the issues women are facing there right from forced marriages and marital rapes to lack of opportunities and education for them. Iman Ali’s (born and brought up in UK) struggle against the unknown world of hinterlands of Pakistan and her father’s hypocrisy, provides soul to the movie. The message in this sub plot is so subtly put that you take it back home. The film maker has even tried to give the solution to these problems. They might seem insignificant but they are in right direction.
This is a landmark movie and 40 years have been worth its wait. Technically it may not be the best product. But the movie has soul. Go watch it Khuda Ke Liye…
Copyright® CINEMAnia
6 comments:
Fantastic Movie.. and a fantastic post to start ur blog with..
Tu aur teri filmein.. par theek hai... ab har movie ke baad el post to chhap gayi samjho... matlab mahine ki 10-15 hehehe
Harbhajan is a racist and so is every Indian....
U have written better about the movie than that asshole Taran Adarsh.. when i went for the movie... it was housefull....and he said this movie will see empty halls.. well done.. keep writing man...
its apathy.. indian film makers arent as bold as these muslim countries film makers
i watched this movie on DVD last week... oh man.. what music... i just love paki bands
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