Umar sari toh kati ishqe butta mein momin. Aakhri waqt mein kya khaq Musalman hogaye?

The loose translation of the above Urdu couplet by legendary poet Momin Khan would be: All your life you lived in non-Muslim ways. In your old age, how can you become a Muslim? For me this couplet quiet sums up Khuda Ke Liye – In the Name of God.

I’ve been reading a lot about Khuda Ke Liye – first Pakistani movie to release in India after 43 years, a movie that has become a craze all over Pakistan, so much so, that on one hand there was a fatwa against it by some radical maulvis and on the other hand an endorsement from Pervez Musharraf, the director of the movie went on vacation with his family, as soon as the movie was released fearing his life, the film was recently honoured with Pakistan's highest civilian award Sitar-i-Imtiaz, etc.., I was very curious to watch Khuda Ke Liye and since I had missed it when it released in India a few months ago, I decided to buy the DVD of the film.

I remember getting bowled over by Pakistani director Sabiha Sumer’s excellent film Khamosh Pani a couple of years ago when it was shown at the MAMI festival. Khamosh Pani told the story of a youth in rural Pakistan who falls under the influence of fundamentalists, and turns his back to his mother and his lover.

Writer / Director Shoaib Mansoor’s movie Khuda Ke Liye – In the name of God goes a step further. The story is interesting as it handles two major issues – religious extremism and racial profiling - and twines them well. There are other issues also that the movie tries to focus on; condition of women during Taliban days in Afghanistan, theological issues of acceptance of music and cultural contextualization of Islam and the way various groups are putting forward their own version of the religion. The film’s introspective theme also takes a look within the contemporary Pakistani society and shows the wedge between the moderates and extremists, it also brings to the fore the less-acknowledged truth that Muslims are being viewed with increasing suspicion in the West. All it takes for you to become a terror suspect is be a Muslim, even though a progressive and moderate one. Besides this, the film also highlights the double standards in the largely patriarchal Pakistani Muslim society where women have to follow what men decide for them, even against their wishes.

Loaded with such relevant issues Khuda Ke Liye turns out to be a film that not just entertains you, but it raises questions in your mind about the denigration and hypocrisy in our society and religion. The movie also attempts to take on the raging debates consuming the Muslim World and Muslims living in foreign lands. The story starts somewhere in pre 9/11 timeframe and ends in late 2002 in the midst of which it follows various characters facing an array of issues in life.

It is a heart wrenching film with good performances by all the actors Shaan, Fawad Khan, Iman Ali and Naseeruddin Shah, who has a cameo in the film and not surprisingly a very powerful one. The film’s music and songs are mesmerizing, particularly 'Allah Ho' and ‘Bandeya’.

Khuda Ke Liye is a brilliant movie, especially if you are interested in what Islam has to say on various issues. Shoaib Mansoor deserves kudos because he tackles a bold and controversial theme that attacks Islamic fundamentalism in a subtle way and that too, in Pakistan. With honest intentions, deft handling of a serious, sensitive and pertinent subject Shoaib Mansoor has done a creditable job as Writer / Director.

A theme like the one depicted in Khuda Ke Liye – In the Name of God is more for the thinking viewer, who loves to ponder over the movie after watching it.

My favourite Top 10 Bollywood films of 2007.

After my last post here, where I had written about the ‘Top 10 Asian Films – Action’ by Samuel L Jackson, a few of my friends told me to try and write my favourite Top 10 Films of Bollywood in 2007. As said earlier, though I am not into making my top 10 lists, here I am just trying to see if I can really do it…

Of late, Indian film industry is changing and every year its bringing new hope and new kind of movies. In terms of fresh ideas, unique concepts, and fascinating projects, I think 2007 was a year of creativity at its best in recent times.

Generally the Top 10 is picked based on box office collections, while that to me is a great barometer to judge the quality of the film, it is not necessarily the best one because some of the best films (content wise) bomb at the Bollywood boxoffice!

My favourite Top 10 Bollywood films of 2007 are here, in no particular order…

1. Black Friday
2. Taare Zameen Par
3. Chak De India
4. Jab We Met
5. Johnny Gaddar
6. Dharm
7. Bheja Fry
8. Manorama 6 Feet Under
9. Om Shanti Om
10. Life in a Metro

There were a few close contenders for the Top 10 list, films that I enjoyed but somewhere they missed a mark to be part of my list. The films include The Namesake, Guru, Blue Umbrella, Parzania, Strangers, 1971, Cheeni Kum, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Gandhi My Father, Welcome & Hey Babby.

I have tried my best here, I Would love to hear your Top 10s and why you picked them.

Top 10 Asian Films - Action

It's always nice when someone you respect shares your opinion. So I was pleased to read Samuel L Jackson's list of his Top 10 Classic Asian Films. Jackson, of course, knows a thing or two about action flicks for sure. In fact, he co-starred with Geena Davis, in one of my favorite Hollywood action film - The Long Kiss Goodnight.

Here's Samuel L Jackson's complete list:

1. Oldboy (South Korea, 2003)
2. Audition (Japan, 1999)
3. City on Fire (Hong Kong, 1987)
4. Infernal Affairs 1, 2, & 3 (Hong Kong, 2002, 2003, 2003)
5. Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (Thailand, 2003)
6. Azumi (Japan, 2003)
7. Family (Japan, 2007)
8. Duelist (South Korea, 2005)
9. Hard Boiled (Hong Kong, 1992)
10. Hero (China, 2002)

Apart from Family (the only film on his list that I haven't seen) I have to say that Samuel Jackson has come up with quite a respectable top 10, or perhaps that should be top 12 if you count Infernal Affairs as three films.

I'm not that into making top ten lists myself, but if I did, I'd include many of Jackson's picks, though most certainly not Duelist, which I liked but not as much. Plus, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon would have to be at the top of my list.