In the Name of God (2007 film)

In the Name of God (, Khuda Kay Liye) is a 2007 Pakistani drama film and secondly, it was the first ever Pakistani film included in the official selection of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

Plot

Brothers Mansoor and Sarmad are two successful singers from Lahore. Sarmad eventually comes under the influence of the Islamic activist Maulana Tahiri and begins to adopt a more conservative Islamic way of living, giving up his music career because it is considered "haram" by the activist. In London, Maryam (Mary), a Westernised British Pakistani girl, falls in love with Dave, a member of the British community. However, this displeases her hypocritical father, despite his own live-in relationship with a British woman.

Meanwhile, Mary's father plans to take her to Pakistan to meet Sarmad and Mansoor. During the visit, she is deceived by her father and taken across the border to Afghanistan under the pretence of attending a relative's wedding. In Afghanistan, she is forcibly married to her cousin Sarmad and abandoned in their household. In an attempt to escape, Mary tries to flee the village but is caught by Sarmad. He eventually rapes her, following the maulana's advice, as a form of punishment intended to prevent her from escaping again. As a result, Mary becomes pregnant and gives birth to Sarmad's child, further reducing her chances of escape.

At the same time, Mansoor attends a music school in Chicago, where he meets a fellow music student, Janie. They fall in love, and Janie gives up drinking alcohol for him. They eventually marry. However, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Mansoor is arrested by the FBI because of his Islamic background and is detained and tortured for a year in Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

Sarmad's father rescues Mary with the protection of the British government. A devastated Mary takes her father and husband to court in Pakistan in search of justice. Wali (Naseeruddin Shah), a Maulana, then explains to the court how Islam is being misused in the name of war and hatred, presenting the religion in a peaceful and credible manner. Traumatised by all the suffering he has witnessed and caused, Sarmad withdraws the case. He also realises the harm he inflicted in the name of religion. Mary is freed and returns to the village where she had been held captive in order to educate the girls there.

Meanwhile, after a year of torment, Mansoor remains in FBI custody; the final torture session leaves him with permanent brain damage. Following an unsuccessful rehabilitation attempt, he is deported and reunited with his family in Pakistan, where he begins to recover.

Cast

Shaan as Mansoor Mansoor stated that the film would clear the irrelevant thinking of Indians towards the Pakistani community.

Filming

thumb|right|Federally Administered Tribal Area of Pakistan, where much of the film was shot

Principal photography of the film took place in Lahore, where most of the parts were filmed. Besides, the film was also shot at Chicago, London and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Box office

In the Name of God is one of Pakistan's highest-grossing films, with a domestic gross of PKR 11.1 million and a worldwide gross of PKR 210 million.

Music

The music of the film was released on 7 July 2007. The soundtrack album of the film was composed and produced by Rohail Hyatt. All songs were written by Shoaib Mansoor with an exception of "Mahi Way" and "Bandeya".

Accolades

{|class="wikitable style"

! Ceremony

! Category

! Recipient

! Result

| rowspan="4"|7th Lux Style Awards

| Best Film

| Shoaib Mansoor

| rowspan="4"|

| Best Film Actor

| Shaan Shahid

| Best Film Actress

| Iman Ali

| Best Original Soundtrack

| Rohail Hayat