FILM: Khuda ke liye
Featuring: Shaan, Fawad Khan, Iman Ali, Rasheed Naz, Naseeruddin Shah
DIR: SHOAIB MANSOOR
Rating: ****1/2(4.5/5)
REVIEW
What is it in this film that even after being an offbeat film, tis attracting good crowds? Is it the typical phormoola? Is it hot bed room scenes? Is it a mindless comedy? No sorry for a change it is the soul of the script! This one proves that a good script is THE foundation for a good film! Very rarely you get so captivated by a film so much that you forget the rest for 3 hours all together and you cannot take away your eyes from the screen.
The essence of this story is the confilcts that are dealt with from reel 1 to the last reel. Over here the conflicts are dealt with very life like and to the credit of the storytellers there is no moment where something goes OTT! Story starts off in London where a beautiful London born Pakistan native Mary whose father (himself married to a British) is against her marrying to a British and schemes to an extent of bringing her to Pakistan and marrying her to one of her cousins Sarmad without anyone else knowing. Sarmad gives into the marraige as he is brain washed by a Maulana (Tahiri). Mary tries to escape but doesnot succeed. In the meanwhile Sarmad's elder brother Mansoor joins Chicago film school and falls in love with a beautiful girl over there. Soon 9/11 happens and Mansoor is arrested as a suspect and tortured. Mary writes to her ex boyfriend about her whereabouts and her plight. Mary's mother comes to Pakistan and then gets Sarmad's father's (Mary's uncle and in law) help to get her back to Pakistan and then Sarmad is taken to court. Mary gets some respite but Mansoor's situation worsens. As mentioned earlier with such tragic plots it is very easy to go melodramatic and film succeeds in not doing so and hence comes out with flying colours.
Each track makes you feel for it. Be it the way Mary is cheated by her own father or the way in which Sarmad influnced by Maulana (this is the most beautifully scripted track) or the way Mansoor is tortured. Direction is top class. Technically, film lacks ever so slightly in the departments of cinematography and editing especially in the initial reels. Music complements and lifts up the film.
The performances also lift the film to different level. Iman Ali looks charming and carries her role wonderfully and with utmost ease. Fawad Khan portrays a velnurable character convinvingly. Shaan is top notch, be it the initial part and his relationship with his brother Sarmad, then his romance with Janie or the second half where he gets tortured by the US police. Rasheed Naz is fantastic as the Maulana. His voice is magical and reflects his status as a Maulana. Naseeruddin Shah in his cameo does exceedingly well. He is as good as ever and dilevers long chunks of dialogues with utmost ease. Rest of the performances gel well in the film.
Cheers!!!
