Khuda Kay Liye
Khuda Kay Liye (also released as For the sake of God in international markets)[5] is a 2007 Pakistani drama film[6] directed by Shoaib Mansoor, 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 change after the events of 9/11 attacks in America and misinterpreted teachings of Jihad.
Khuda Kay Liye | |
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![]() Theatrical poster | |
Directed by | Shoaib Mansoor |
Produced by | Shoaib Mansoor |
Written by | Shoaib Mansoor |
Starring | Shaan Shahid Iman Ali Rasheed Naz Naseeruddin Shah Fawad Khan Naeem Tahir Hameed Sheikh |
Music by | Rohail Hyatt |
Cinematography | David Lemay Ali Mohammad Neil Lisk Ken Seng |
Edited by | Ali Javed Aamir Khan ET |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Geo Films Percept Picture Company (India) |
Release date |
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Running time | 171 minutes |
Country | Pakistan |
Language | English Urdu |
Budget | ₨6 crore[1] |
Box office | ₨15.06 crore (US$2.51 million) (Worldwide)[2] ₨5.50 crore (US$1.1 million) (Pakistan) [3][4] |
Khuda Kay Liye was released on 20 July 2007 in Pakistan and on 4 April 2008 in India, as well as the screenings at various international film festivals. The film subsequently won a number of awards for its acting, notably three Lux Style Awards, one Silver Pyramid Award at Cairo International Film Festival, one Roberto Rossellini Award, Italy and one Fukuoka Audience Award at Fukuoka International Film Festival, Japan. The release of the film was historic for two reasons: it was the first Pakistani film to be released in India in almost half a century, and secondly it was the first ever Pakistani film to be included in the official selection of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).[7]
Plot
Brothers Mansoor and Sarmad are two successful singers from Lahore. Sarmad eventually is 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 father, who is hypocritical, despite himself being in a live-in relationship with a British woman.
Meanwhile, Mary's father plans to take her for a trip 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 consummates their marriage by force, as advised by the maulana, as a sort of punishment so that Mary would not escape again. Mary becomes pregnant and has a baby, thus lowering her chances to escape.
Simultaneously, Mansoor goes to a musical school in Chicago, where he meets fellow music student Janie. They fall in love with each other and Janie stops drinking alcohol for him. They eventually marry. However, shortly after the events of 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.
Mary is rescued by Sarmad's father under the protection of the British government. A devastated Mary takes her father and cousin 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 in a believable and peaceful manner. Traumatised by all the suffering he has seen and caused, Sarmad withdraws the case. He also realizes the damage that he was made to inflict in the name of religion. Mary is now free and returns to the village where she was kept prisoner so she can educate the girls there. 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
- Shaan - Mansoor[6][8]
- Fawad Khan - Sarmad
- Iman Ali - Maryam (Mary)[8][6]
- Naseeruddin Shah - Maulana Wali (Special Appearance)[8]
- Naeem Tahir - Mansoor's & Sarmad's Father
- Rasheed Naz - Maulana Tahirih[8][6]
- Hameed Sheikh - Sher Shah
- Humayun Kazmi - Mary's Father
- Austin Marie Sayre - Janie
- Seemi Raheel - Mansoor's & Sarmad's Mother[8]
Production
Development
—Shoaib Mansoor during an interview for the film.[9]
Shoaib Mansoor, the director of the film, developed the idea after the misconceptions about Pakistan in Pakistani diaspora and India.[6] Mansoor stated that the film will clear the irrelevant thinking of Indians towards the Pakistani community.[8][9]
Filming
![](../I/Northern_Country_Life.JPG.webp)
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
Khuda Kay Liye is one of Pakistan's highest-grossing films, with a domestic gross of $1.1 million and a worldwide gross of $2.1 million.[11]
Music
Khuda Kay Liye | |
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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 |
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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 |
See also
References
- 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 Kay Liye box office Pakistan". boxofficedetail.com. 27 December 2013. 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.
- "KHUDA KAY LIYE (2007) - BFI". British Film Institute website. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- "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.
- "Khuda Kay Liye: Complete cast and crew details". Bollywood Hungama website. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- 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.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udx7hJaRSLs