Khuda Kay Liye (Urdu: خدا کے لیے, also released as In the Name of God in international markets)[4] is a 2007 Pakistani drama film[5] directed by Shoaib Mansoor, produced by Brigadier Syed Mujtaba Tirmizi from ISPR and stars Shaan Shahid, Fawad Khan and Iman Ali in pivotal roles, with a cameo appearance by Naseeruddin Shah. The film follows Mansoor and Sarmad (played by Shaan and Khan), two singers whose lives changed after the 9/11 attacks in America and the misinterpretation of Jihad.
| Khuda Kay Liye | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Shoaib Mansoor |
| Written by | Shoaib Mansoor |
| Produced by | Athar Abbas Syed Mujtaba Tirmizi |
| Starring | Shaan Shahid Iman Ali Rasheed Naz Naseeruddin Shah Fawad Khan Naeem Tahir Hameed Sheikh |
| Cinematography | David Lemay Ali Mohammad Neil Lisk Ken Seng |
| Edited by | Ali Javed Aamir Khan ET |
| Music by | Rohail Hyatt |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Geo Films Percept Picture Company Sony Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 171 minutes |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Languages | English Urdu |
| Budget | Rs. 6 crore (US$210,000)[1] |
| Box office | Rs. 15.06 crore (US$520,000) (Worldwide)[2] Rs. 5.50 crore (US$190,000) (Pakistan) [3] |
Khuda Kay Liye was released on 20 July 2007 in Pakistan and on 4 April 2008 in India, as well as screenings at various international film festivals. The film subsequently won several awards for its acting, notably three Lux Style Awards and one Silver Pyramid Award at Cairo International Film Festival. The release of the film was historic for two reasons: due to distribution by Shailendra Singh and Percept Pictures, it was the first Pakistani film to be released in India in almost half a century,[6] and secondly, it was the first ever Pakistani film included in the official selection of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).[7]
Plot
editBrothers Mansoor and Sarmad are two successful singers from Lahore. Sarmad is eventually influenced by an Islamic activist Maulana Tahiri, as he begins to practice a more conservative Islamic way of living and gives up his music career as it is considered "haram" by the Islamic activist. Maryam (Mary), a Westernised British Pakistani girl, falls in love with Dave from the British community. However, this displeases her hypocritical father despite himself being in a live-in relationship with a British woman.
Meanwhile, Mary's father plans to take her to Pakistan to meet Sarmad and Mansoor. During the visit, she is deceived by her father and taken across the border to Afghanistan under the guise of attending a relative's wedding. In Afghanistan, she is forcefully married off to her cousin Sarmad and abandoned in their household. In an escape attempt, Mary tries to run from the village but gets caught by Sarmad. He eventually rapes her, as advised by the maulana, as a sort of punishment so that Mary would not escape again. As a result, Mary becomes pregnant and has Sarmad's baby, thus lowering her chances of escape.
Simultaneously, Mansoor goes to a musical school in Chicago, where he meets fellow music student Janie. They fall in love, and Janie stops drinking alcohol for him. They eventually marry. However, shortly after 9/11, Mansoor gets arrested by the FBI due to his Islamic background and is detained and tortured for a year in Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
Sarmad's father rescues Mary under the protection of the British government. A devastated Mary takes her father and husband to court in Pakistan for justice. Wali (Naseeruddin Shah), a Maulana, then explains to the court how Islam is being misused in the name of war and hatred, bringing the religion forward believably and peacefully. Traumatised by all the suffering he has seen and caused, Sarmad withdraws the case. He also realises the damage he inflicted in the name of religion. Mary is now free and returns to the village where she was a prisoner to educate the girls. Meanwhile, Mansoor is still in FBI custody after a year of torment; the last torture session having inflicted permanent brain damage. After a failed rehab attempt, he is deported and reunited with his family in Pakistan, where he begins to recover.
Cast
edit- Shaan as Mansoor[5][8]
- Fawad Khan as Sarmad
- Iman Ali as Maryam (Mary)[8][5]
- Naseeruddin Shah as Maulana Wali (Special Appearance)[8]
- Naeem Tahir as Mansoor's & Sarmad's Father
- Rasheed Naz as Maulana Tahirih[8][5]
- Hameed Sheikh as Sher Shah
- Sonia Rehman as Khala
- Humayun Kazmi as Mary's Father
- Austin Marie Sayre as Janie
- Najiba Faiz as Gul Bano[8]
- Seemi Raheel as Mansoor's & Sarmad's Mother[8]
Production
editDevelopment
editThe way America and the West are dealing with the problem is very wrong — they are just trying to kill and suppress those Muslims who are being labeled as terrorists. And it will not solve the problem because if you kill 10, a hundred more will emerge.
Shoaib Mansoor, the film's director, developed the idea after the misconceptions about Pakistan in the Pakistani diaspora and India.[5] Mansoor stated that the film would clear the irrelevant thinking of Indians towards the Pakistani community.[8][9]
Filming
edit
Principal photography of the film took place in Lahore, where most of the parts were filmed. Besides, the film was also shot at Chicago, London and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[10]
Box office
editKhuda Kay Liye is one of Pakistan's highest-grossing films, with a domestic gross of PKR 11.1 million and a worldwide gross of PKR 210 million.[11]
Other media
editSony bought the film's distribution, satellite, music, and media rights. The film was distributed by Geo Films and Percept Picture Company in Asia and the Middle East. Sony Distribution distributed the film in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The television premiere of the film occurred on Geo TV. Later, SET India premiered the film in other regions. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the DVD of the movie worldwide.
Streaming
editThe film has been available on Lionsgate since 2020.
Music
edit| Khuda Kay Liye | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various artists | |
| Released | July 7, 2007 |
| Recorded | 2006–2007 |
| Genre | Film soundtrack |
| Label | Republic Music Group, Huqa Entertainment Corp, Sony BMG |
| Producer | Rohail Hyatt |
The music of the film was released on July 7, 2007. The soundtrack album of the film was composed and produced by Rohail Hyatt.[12][13] All songs were written by Shoaib Mansoor with an exception of "Mahi Way" and "Bandeya".
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Duniya Ho" | Shoaib Mansoor | Ahmed Jahanzeb; Shuja Haider | 3:57 |
| 2. | "Hamaray Hain" | Shoaib Mansoor | Ahmed Jahanzeb; Shuja Haider | 3:49 |
| 3. | "Bandeya Ho" | Bulleh Shah | Khawar Jawad; Farah Zalah | 3:38 |
| 4. | "Tiluk Kamod" | Ahmed Jahanzeb | 4:37 | |
| 5. | "Janie Janie" | Shoaib Mansoor | Ahmed Jahanzeb; Lagan the Band | 6:01 |
| 6. | "Allah Hoo" | Saeen Zahoor; Zara Madani | ||
| 7. | "Mahi Way" | Faiza Mujahid | Khawar Jawad; Faiza Mujahid | 3:10 |
| 8. | "Khuda Ke Liye" | Shoaib Mansoor | Ammar Hassan | 3:33 |
| 9. | "Bandeya Ho (DJ Suketu and DJ Aks Remix)[14]" | Bulleh Shah | Khawar Jawad; Faiza Mujahid | 3:34 |
Accolades
edit| Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th Lux Style Awards | Best Film | Shoaib Mansoor | Won |
| Best Film Actor | Shaan Shahid | Won | |
| Best Film Actress | Iman Ali | Won | |
| Best Original Soundtrack | Rohail Hayat | Won |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Arpana (1 April 2008). "Khuda Kay Liye thaws 43 years of India-Pakistan screen chill". Hindustan Times (newspaper). Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Top 10 Highest Grossing Pakistani Movies of All Time". Brandsynario website. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Khuda Ke Liye (2007 film)". Box office MOJO website. 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Khuda Kay Liye Movie Review - A fantastic film from across the border". IndiaGlitz. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "KHUDA KAY LIYE (2007) - BFI". British Film Institute website. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ Gentleman, Amelia (16 April 2008). "Now Playing in India: A Rare View of Pakistan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "Khuda Kay Liye thaws 43 years of India-Pakistan screen chill". Hindustan Times (newspaper). Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Khuda Kay Liye: Complete cast and crew details". Bollywood Hungama website. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ a b Schifrin, Nick (8 April 2008). "'Lollywood' Hits Bollywood". ABC News website. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "▼ 10 PAKISTANI FILMS THAT INDIAN'S MUST WATCH". The Ghaziabad Live. 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Khuda Ke Liye (2007)". Boxofficemojo.com. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Exclusive: The life and times of Rohail Hyatt". Dawn (newspaper). 26 July 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Laili jaan". The Friday Times. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Bandya Ho (Remix) - DJ Suketu & DJ Aks". YouTube.
External links
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