Khuda Ke Liye (In the name of GOD)

Khuda ke liye (In the name of GOD) is the first Pakistani movie to be released in India. The director has very clearly and in a very simplified way presented the major, complex and debatable issues like religious extremism, racial discrimination, the condition of girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan (that was during the Taliban days and I wish that has improved by now), the acceptance of art in Islam and the problems faced by moderate Muslims.

The movie revolves around three characters Mansoor, Sarmad and Mary/Marium. Mansoor and Sarmad are brothers and are the best musicians in Lahore. They belong to an educated and well-to-do family with mixed liberal and traditional values. Mary is a Muslim girl born and brought up in UK.

Sarmad is much brain-washed by a Muslim Maulana and he turns into an extremist (Jehadi). He quits music, starts following Muslim dress-code and is compelled to do all the wrong things in the name of religion/Allah.

Mansoor joins a Music School in America. There he meets an American girl Jeanie and falls in love with her. They are happily married but things change drastically after 9/11. He is captured by American agencies just for being a Muslim and belonging to Pakistan.

Mary is in love with Dave; an English. Her hypocritical father deceitfully brings her to Pakistan. She is forced to marry a Muslim and is imprisoned in Afghanistan. (Mary is cousin to Mansoor and Sarmad).

The best part of the movie is the 10 minutes court-room scene in which Naseeruddin Shah makes a special appearance. He has the best dialogues in the movie and he delivers them superbly. The second best part is the end.

The plight of Mary is heart-touching and reflects the double-standards of patriarchal society in Pakistan. The character of Sarmad very aptly depicts the dilemma of the Muslim youths. But Mansoor’s story is the heart-breaking one. It highlights the very less know problems that Muslims have to face all over the world just for being Muslims.

All in all a very beautiful movie. The movie is a BIG NO for the people who want to watch it just for fun and entertainment. It is for the thinking audience. The movie throughout will raise many questions in your mind.

You might want to stop watching it halfway as it is depressing. But watch it till end and I bet you will love it.

Rating – 4.5/5