Khuda Kay Liye is a Pakistani Urdu language movie written, directed and produced by Shoaib Mansoor. It stars Shaan, Iman Ali and Fawad Khan as its main characters.
Three different people from different continents have problems that relate to on going issues and Islam.
Two brothers who are both singers, Mansoor (Shaan) & Sarmad (Fawad), become the best singers in Lahore. Sarmad becomes influenced by an Islamic activist. He begins to practice the extremist interpretation of Islam, grows a beard and goes against music, also putting pressure on his free-spirited family to comply. Those parties interpret certain verses of the Quran and Hadith (Islamic religious texts) to call for a ban on music and pictures.
In England, a girl Mary/Mariam (played by actor-model Iman Ali) is a westernized girl in love with a white person called Dave. Her hypocritical father disapproves, despite the fact that he is living with a British woman to whom he is not married. He tells Mary that they are going to Pakistan for a trip and that once they return she can marry Dave. This, however is a trap. While touring Afghanistan, he has her forcibly married to Sarmad, who is her cousin. Mary is then abandoned in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Mansoor goes to music school in Chicago. There, he meets a girl called Janie and instantly falls in love with her. She quits alcohol for him, and they eventually get married. After 9/11, FBI officers capture him when someone overhears a drunk man accusing Mansoor of being a terrorist. Subsequently, he is tortured for a year in custody just because of his Islamic background.
Meanwhile, Mary manages to run away, but is caught by Sarmad in the process. She is kept under strict supervision and due to this incident, Sarmad eventually consummates their marriage by force. She doesn't lose hope, managing to sneak a letter to Dave under the guise of writing to her father. Mansoor and Sarmad's parents finally come to her rescue under the protection of the British Government, but Mary, driven by vengeance, then takes her father and cousin to court in Pakistan. There, a wise Maulana (Naseeruddin Shah) explains to the court how Islam is being butchered in the name of war and hatred, bringing the religion forward in a believable and peaceful manner.
Traumatized by all the suffering he has seen and caused, Sarmad withdraws from the case. He also realizes the damage that he was made to do in the name of religion. Mary is now free, but decides to return to the village where she was kept prisoner, so she can educate the girls there. Meanwhile, Mansoor is still in U.S. 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, thanks to the hope of his family, he begins to slowly recover.
Reception and Implications
Khuda Kay Liye was released on July 20, 2007.
It is important to note that this is one of very few, if any, independent motion pictures to be released to a cinema-going Pakistani market. The general trend in local cinema revolves around formulaic song and dance numbers, reminiscent of Lollywood musicals. Independent films, or films that break this formula, are rare if not entirely absent.
Khuda Kay Liye was produced in conjunction with the film division of the popular TV network, Geo TV. The film is a joint venture of Pakistan, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The film opened to generally Positive Reviews . There was tremendous curiosity around the film. All the critics gave it a positive review. Presence of Big Names and Naseeruddin Shah resulted in a grand opening and the film turned out to be a huge commercial as well as critical success.
The movie was later realeased Internationally in UK , UAE , US and India generating critical reviews everywhere and was called a Hit in every country.
Team & Crew
Director, Writer & Producer: Shoaib Mansoor
Production Manager: Rizwaan Chowdhri
Production Designer: Rizwaan Chowdhri
Assistant Director: Rizwaan Chowdhri, Bilal, Ali J.,
Line Producer: Rizwaan Chowdhri, Adeel Hashmee
Awards and Accolades
Khuda Kay Liye is the second highest grossing film of Pakistan of all time with a gross of $3 million. Iman Ali makes her cinematic debut with this film, playing an Anglo-Pakistani. Shaan's wife is played by Austin Sayre. Ahmed Jahanzeb and Shuja Haider produced the film's soundtrack. The film has won the following awards since its release:
31st Cairo International Film Festival
Silver Pyramid Award for Best Picture
Roberto Rossellini Award (Italian film industry)
Best Film
Fukuoka Audience Award (Japan)
Best Film
Asian Festival of First Films
Swarovski Trophy for Best Cinematography
Lux Style Awards 2008
Best Film
Best Actor - Shaan
Best Actress - Iman Ali
Best Soundtrack
Three different people from different continents have problems that relate to on going issues and Islam.
Two brothers who are both singers, Mansoor (Shaan) & Sarmad (Fawad), become the best singers in Lahore. Sarmad becomes influenced by an Islamic activist. He begins to practice the extremist interpretation of Islam, grows a beard and goes against music, also putting pressure on his free-spirited family to comply. Those parties interpret certain verses of the Quran and Hadith (Islamic religious texts) to call for a ban on music and pictures.
In England, a girl Mary/Mariam (played by actor-model Iman Ali) is a westernized girl in love with a white person called Dave. Her hypocritical father disapproves, despite the fact that he is living with a British woman to whom he is not married. He tells Mary that they are going to Pakistan for a trip and that once they return she can marry Dave. This, however is a trap. While touring Afghanistan, he has her forcibly married to Sarmad, who is her cousin. Mary is then abandoned in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Mansoor goes to music school in Chicago. There, he meets a girl called Janie and instantly falls in love with her. She quits alcohol for him, and they eventually get married. After 9/11, FBI officers capture him when someone overhears a drunk man accusing Mansoor of being a terrorist. Subsequently, he is tortured for a year in custody just because of his Islamic background.
Meanwhile, Mary manages to run away, but is caught by Sarmad in the process. She is kept under strict supervision and due to this incident, Sarmad eventually consummates their marriage by force. She doesn't lose hope, managing to sneak a letter to Dave under the guise of writing to her father. Mansoor and Sarmad's parents finally come to her rescue under the protection of the British Government, but Mary, driven by vengeance, then takes her father and cousin to court in Pakistan. There, a wise Maulana (Naseeruddin Shah) explains to the court how Islam is being butchered in the name of war and hatred, bringing the religion forward in a believable and peaceful manner.
Traumatized by all the suffering he has seen and caused, Sarmad withdraws from the case. He also realizes the damage that he was made to do in the name of religion. Mary is now free, but decides to return to the village where she was kept prisoner, so she can educate the girls there. Meanwhile, Mansoor is still in U.S. 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, thanks to the hope of his family, he begins to slowly recover.
Reception and Implications
Khuda Kay Liye was released on July 20, 2007.
It is important to note that this is one of very few, if any, independent motion pictures to be released to a cinema-going Pakistani market. The general trend in local cinema revolves around formulaic song and dance numbers, reminiscent of Lollywood musicals. Independent films, or films that break this formula, are rare if not entirely absent.
Khuda Kay Liye was produced in conjunction with the film division of the popular TV network, Geo TV. The film is a joint venture of Pakistan, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The film opened to generally Positive Reviews . There was tremendous curiosity around the film. All the critics gave it a positive review. Presence of Big Names and Naseeruddin Shah resulted in a grand opening and the film turned out to be a huge commercial as well as critical success.
The movie was later realeased Internationally in UK , UAE , US and India generating critical reviews everywhere and was called a Hit in every country.
Team & Crew
Director, Writer & Producer: Shoaib Mansoor
Production Manager: Rizwaan Chowdhri
Production Designer: Rizwaan Chowdhri
Assistant Director: Rizwaan Chowdhri, Bilal, Ali J.,
Line Producer: Rizwaan Chowdhri, Adeel Hashmee
Awards and Accolades
Khuda Kay Liye is the second highest grossing film of Pakistan of all time with a gross of $3 million. Iman Ali makes her cinematic debut with this film, playing an Anglo-Pakistani. Shaan's wife is played by Austin Sayre. Ahmed Jahanzeb and Shuja Haider produced the film's soundtrack. The film has won the following awards since its release:
31st Cairo International Film Festival
Silver Pyramid Award for Best Picture
Roberto Rossellini Award (Italian film industry)
Best Film
Fukuoka Audience Award (Japan)
Best Film
Asian Festival of First Films
Swarovski Trophy for Best Cinematography
Lux Style Awards 2008
Best Film
Best Actor - Shaan
Best Actress - Iman Ali
Best Soundtrack
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