Khuda Ke Liye

Curiosity about the Pakistani civil society is never quenched for us Indians. And apart from the internet and an ocassional writeup in the newspapers, rarely do we get a glimpse of the social currents there. Given this scenario, Khuda Ke Liye comes across as a breath of fresh air.

If one takes away the slightly dragging narrative, hints of self-pity and the victim-complex, the movie does a decent job of dealing with religious fundamentalism.

Of course, most of what is shown is what we see in our own country too -- brainwashing, fundamentalism, violence, innocents getting caught in the whirlwind etc etc -- though may not be on that scale.

What is the most important aspect of the movie is that it shows there is a liberal stream flowing in that country too -- and that needs to be harnessed.

Naseeruddin Shah, in his cameo, does an expectedly decent job. However, what is surprising is the role he was chosen for -- a liberal Mullah who shreds into pieces that many popular, anachronistic and regressive notions about Islam that are used by his fundamentalist counterparts to wage "Jehad" across the world.

The story revolves around two musician brothers. While one fals prey to the mullah's manipulations, abandons the "haram", forcefuly marries his own elder cousin and then rapes her, the other pursues his interest further, marries an American -- and yet is branded as a terrorist by the simplistic reasoning of the US authorities in the aftermath of 9/11.

The entire fare is a tracking down of the trajectories the lives of these siblings take.

Good movie overall.