Khuda Ke Liye : A Discussion

I am trying to convince my father, a school teacher and a self proclaimed owner of high intellect, to see Khuda Ke Liye and I am having a hard time. 1981 is the year in which he watched a movie in a theatre last time. He quite because of the degrading quality of the movies and now he is convinced that movies are made only for rikshaw pullers or people with intelectual level of the rikshaw pullers. Cinema is the lowest form of art in his opinion and he thinks even taking name of a movie would damage his image of an intellectual. Considering the quality of the popular cinema, I don't blame him for what he thinks.

However, I have strong reasons to believe that if I am successful in making him watch "Khuda Ke Liye", his opinion about cinema will definitely change. And that sums up my opinion about the movie.

The subject is great and the treatment is even greater. I have seen many movies with sensitive subjects but never with such an excellent treatment. "Khuda Ke Liye" has a universal appeal, which makes it relevant in India too. It can be related to not only muslim extremism but to any kind of extremism. The scene in which a slogan chanting mob destroys a new year celebration will remind you shiv sainiks doing the same in India. It shows a mirror to a society which claims to be advancing towards modernity but actually is going back. The dialogues like "Sattar saal pehle sawal tha ke munni parda karegi ya nahi, aaj sawal utha he ke amma parda karegi ya nahi", are well written and well placed in the script.

It not only questions the credibility of so called 'jihadis' but also the Messiah of democracy and human rights the US. It actually draws a parallel between jihadis and the US, both think that only they are right and both are fighting fiercely to achieve their own goals. No matter how many wrongs they do in the process.

Khuda Ke Liye serves all the purposes of the cinema. It entertains, informs, makes you think, asks you questions, provides some answers without pushing a certain ideology and it comes with no tags that say "leave your brain at home". It is such a relief for people like me who find it difficult to leave their brains at home. The beauty of the work lies in the fact that the movie appeals to people in front and back row alike and has the capability to pull seasonal movie watchers to the theatres.

It's a brave effort backed by a great script, solid direction, mesmerising music, high production values and some excellent performances. Shoaib Mansoor deserves accolades for this master piece.

We need more movies like "Khuda Ke Liye".

Links:

Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/moviereview/2926547.cms

Khalid Mohammad, Hindustan Times, interview of Shoaib Mansoor :
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=45e02ca3-8033-4033-8665-d2d55fe17173

Read what's on wikipedia, contains some very useful links to pictures and music, etc:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khuda_Ke_Liye