On Friday, Khuda Kay Liye (“In the Name of God”), a critically acclaimed Pakistani film about the lives of Muslims and Pakistanis after September 11th 2001, was released in cinemas across India. According to BBC News, “It is the first Pakistani film to get a wide commercial release in India in over four decades.” The film, directed by Shoaib Mansoor and starring Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah as well as Pakistani actors Shan and Iman Ali, won several awards following its release last year, including the special jury award at the 31st Cairo International Film Festival in December. A movie review by Pakistan’s Daily Times noted last year, “If directed by any other individual, such a sensitive, introspective story could easily have metamorphosed into a mere show of finger-pointing. However, Shoaib Mansoor is intelligent enough to portray the gray, confused areas of an individual’s interpretation of religion, experienced enough to fairly depict both the religious and not-so-religious factions of Pakistan and perceptive enough to get his message across: that while religion in itself is good, it is often misused as a means to personal gain. Violence, persecution of women and lawlessness are all conveniently excused to have been done ‘in the name of God’.”
While the film’s premise is significant given the current international atmosphere, its release in India today is especially notable. Khuda Kay Liye, produced by Geo Films, will essentially end the official film ban imposed by both countries following the Indo-Pak 1965 war, (although illicit copies of Bollywood films have always been easy to find in Pakistan). Diplomacy via the two countries’ film industries in the past few years has been notable. BBC News added, “… in recent years, the two countries have made exceptions [to the ban]. In 2003, Pakistani film Khamosh Paani (Silent Waters) had a limited release in India. In 2006, Pakistan allowed three Indian films to be shown.” Moreover, Bollywood stars have recently attended film festivals in Pakistan, while Pakistani actors have been featured in Indian productions. I have always been a major proponent of alternate methods of diplomacy and peace building. Therefore, the recent “good will” developments between India and Pakistan’s film industries, in my opinion, has been especially instrumental in influencing positive perceptions between the countries’ populations and should serve as an example to our governments.
[...] Changing Up Pakistan! on the film diplomacy in the subcontinent between India and Pakistan. Share This [...]
Cultural diplomacy will always transcend the political and economic when it comes to regional harmonization, and this story is an example of such.
With India’s substantial Muslim population and its current efforts to understand and moderate various extremist ideologies of different faiths, this film will not only serve as a tool of diplomacy, but also an indicator of the growing positive cultural and intellectual contributions of Pakistan to both the region and the world.
Thanks for highlighting this significant milestone in regional and international relations.
[...] This cup of tea was served by: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan [...]
[...] Q; CHUP recently covered the wide commercial release of Khuda Kay Liye in India – a development that essentially ended the film ban between the two countries, and discussed the [...]
[...] achieve freedom for the territory and its people.” Goodwill measures like these, therefore, [see past posts CHUP has done on film diplomacy], should serve as an example to our countries’ governments, which should work in conjunction [...]
[...] the use of film, music, and sports to strengthen ties between our countries, [see past posts on the release of Khuda Kay Liye in India, and Junoon's performance in Jammu & Kashmir]. I have been a major proponent of such kinds of [...]
[...] the use of film, music, and sports to strengthen ties between the countries, [see past posts on the release of Khuda Kay Liye in India, and Junoon's performance in Jammu & Kashmir]. I have been a major proponent of such kinds of [...]
[...] People have called films like Zibahkhana, Ramachand Pakistani, Khuda Kay Liye, and now, Kashf, a revival of Pakistani cinema. Where would you like to see the country’s [...]