In the Name of God (2007 film)

In the Name of God
Theatrical poster
Directed byShoaib Mansoor
Written byShoaib Mansoor
Produced byAthar Abbas
Syed Mujtaba Tirmizi
StarringShaan Shahid
Iman Ali
Rasheed Naz
Naseeruddin Shah
Fawad Khan
Naeem Tahir
Hameed Sheikh
CinematographyDavid Lemay
Ali Mohammad
Neil Lisk
Ken Seng
Edited byAli Javed
Aamir Khan
ET
Music byRohail Hyatt
Production
company
Distributed byGeo Films
Percept Picture Company
Sony Films
Release dates
  • 20 July 2007 (2007-07-20) (Pakistan)
  • 4 April 2008 (2008-04-04) (India)
Running time
171 minutes
CountryPakistan
LanguagesEnglish
Urdu
BudgetRs. 6 crore (US$210,000)[1]
Box officeRs. 15.06 crore (US$540,000) (Worldwide)[2] Rs. 5.50 crore (US$200,000) (Pakistan) [3]

In the Name of God (Urdu: خدا کے لیے, Khuda Kay Liye)[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.

It 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

Brothers Mansoor and Sarmad are two successful singers from Lahore. Sarmad eventually comes under the influence of the Islamic activist Maulana Tahiri and begins to adopt a more conservative Islamic way of living, giving up his music career because it is considered "haram" by the activist. In London, Maryam (Mary), a Westernised British Pakistani girl, falls in love with Dave, a member of the British community. However, this displeases her hypocritical father, despite his own 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 pretence of attending a relative's wedding. In Afghanistan, she is forcibly married to her cousin Sarmad and abandoned in their household. In an attempt to escape, Mary tries to flee the village but is caught by Sarmad. He eventually rapes her, following the maulana's advice, as a form of punishment intended to prevent her from escaping again. As a result, Mary becomes pregnant and gives birth to Sarmad's child, further reducing her chances of escape.

At the same time, Mansoor attends a music school in Chicago, where he meets a fellow music student, Janie. They fall in love, and Janie gives up drinking alcohol for him. They eventually marry. However, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Mansoor is arrested by the FBI because of his Islamic background and is detained and tortured for a year in Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

Sarmad's father rescues Mary with the protection of the British government. A devastated Mary takes her father and husband to court in Pakistan in search of justice. Wali (Naseeruddin Shah), a Maulana, then explains to the court how Islam is being misused in the name of war and hatred, presenting the religion in a peaceful and credible manner. Traumatised by all the suffering he has witnessed and caused, Sarmad withdraws the case. He also realises the harm he inflicted in the name of religion. Mary is freed and returns to the village where she had been held captive in order to educate the girls there.

Meanwhile, after a year of torment, Mansoor remains in FBI custody; the final torture session leaves him with permanent brain damage. Following an unsuccessful rehabilitation attempt, he is deported and reunited with his family in Pakistan, where he begins to recover.

Cast

Production

Development

The 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 during an interview for the film.[9]

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

Federally Administered Tribal Area of Pakistan, where much of the film was shot

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

In the Name of God 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]

Music

Khuda Kay Liye
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
Released7 July 2007
Recorded2006–2007
GenreFilm soundtrack
LabelsRepublic Music Group, Huqa Entertainment Corp, Sony BMG
ProducerRohail Hyatt

The music of the film was released on 7 July 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.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Duniya Ho"Shoaib MansoorAhmed Jahanzeb, Shuja Haider3:57
2."Hamaray Hain"Shoaib MansoorAhmed Jahanzeb, Shuja Haider3:49
3."Bandeya Ho"Bulleh ShahKhawar Jawad, Faiza Mujahid3:38
4."Tiluk Kamod" Ahmed Jahanzeb4:37
5."Janie Janie"Shoaib MansoorAhmed Jahanzeb, Lagan the Band6:01
6."Allah Hoo" Saeen Zahoor, Zara Madani 
7."Mahi Way"Faiza MujahidKhawar Jawad, Faiza Mujahid3:10
8."Khuda Ke Liye"Shoaib MansoorAmmar Hassan3:33
9."Bandeya Ho (DJ Suketu and DJ Aks Remix)[14]"Bulleh ShahKhawar Jawad, Faiza Mujahid3:34

Accolades

Ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref.
7th Lux Style Awards Best Film Shoaib Mansoor Won [15][16]
Best Film Actor Shaan Shahid Won
Best Film Actress Iman Ali Won
Best Original Soundtrack Rohail Hayat Won
Cairo International Film Festival Silver Pyramid Award for Best Artistic Contribution Khuda Kay Liye Won [17][18][19]
Roberto Rossellini Award (Italy) Best Film Khuda Kay Liye Won [20][21][22][23]
Fukuoka International Film Festival Fukuoka Audience Award Khuda Kay Liye Won [24][25][26]
Muscat Film Festival Best Foreign Film Khuda Kay Liye Won [27]
International Film Festival of India Official Selection – Indian Panorama Khuda Kay Liye Selected [28][29]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Arpana (1 April 2008). "Khuda Kay Liye thaws 43 years of India-Pakistan screen chill". Hindustan Times (newspaper). Retrieved 21 June 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ↑ "Top 10 Highest Grossing Pakistani Movies of All Time". Brandsynario website. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. ↑ "Khuda Ke Liye (2007 film)". Box office MOJO website. 2008. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "Khuda Kay Liye Movie Review - A fantastic film from across the border". IndiaGlitz. 2 April 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "KHUDA KAY LIYE (2007) - BFI". British Film Institute website. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  6. ↑ Gentleman, Amelia (16 April 2008). "Now Playing in India: A Rare View of Pakistan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "Khuda Kay Liye thaws 43 years of India-Pakistan screen chill". Hindustan Times (newspaper). Retrieved 21 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Khuda Kay Liye: Complete cast and crew details". Bollywood Hungama website. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  9. 1 2 Schifrin, Nick (8 April 2008). "'Lollywood' Hits Bollywood". ABC News website. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "▼ 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.
  11. ↑ "Khuda Ke Liye (2007)". Boxofficemojo.com. 20 July 2007. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "Exclusive: The life and times of Rohail Hyatt". Dawn (newspaper). 26 July 2009. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "Laili jaan". The Friday Times. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "Bandya Ho (Remix) - DJ Suketu & DJ Aks". YouTube.
  15. ↑ Jamil Khan (31 October 2008). "seventh lux style awards:Style Galore!". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009.
  16. ↑ "Khuda Kay Liye (2007) – Awards". IMDb.
  17. ↑ "In the Name of God as Zahir Khan". IMDb.
  18. ↑ "Naseer was Floored by Khuda Kay Liye Script". MovieTalkies. 1 April 2008.
  19. ↑ "Menonton Film-film Bermutu di JiFFest". Kompas.com. 7 December 2008.
  20. ↑ "In the Name of God as Zahir Khan". IMDb.
  21. ↑ "Naseer was Floored by Khuda Kay Liye Script". MovieTalkies. 1 April 2008.
  22. ↑ "Khuda Kay Liye Movie Review: A Gutsy Take On Fundamentalism". MovieTalkies. 3 April 2008.
  23. ↑ "Khuda Kay Liye DVD". Flipkart. From Roberto Rossellini Award-winning filmmaker Shoaib Mansoor...
  24. ↑ "In the Name of God as Zahir Khan". IMDb.
  25. ↑ "Movie Review: Khuda Kay Liye – In the Name of God". CESRAN International. June 2012.
  26. ↑ "Menonton Film-film Bermutu di JiFFest". Kompas.com (in Indonesian). 7 December 2008.
  27. ↑ "Naseer was Floored by Khuda Kay Liye Script". MovieTalkies. 1 April 2008.
  28. ↑ "IFFI's first Pakistani film strikes instant chord". India Forums. 26 November 2007.
  29. ↑ "In the Name of God as Zahir Khan". IMDb.
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