Khudaa Ke Liyee
My friends P and Lady R saw the movie last week. It was a House Full. Noted lots of women wearing burkhas in the theater.
Our conversation at the United Services Club Bar, sipping Whiskeys, after the movie.
Mariner: Quite a hatke se movie. What say?
Lady R: Oh yes. After long time we got to see a meaningful movie.
P: Set between London, Chicago, Lahore and Waziristhan. The post 9/11 events were strung up together in a Masterly fashion.
Lady R: The conflict between Moderate Muslims and Muslim fundamentalist is a way of life in Pakistan now. And there are fanatics among American Law enforcers too, who will stop short at nothing and view ordinary Muslims with grave suspicion in their own country. That was depicted well here.
Mariner: The Taliban Mullahs have succeeded in pulling in educated youths to their cause. That is a bit frightening.
P: Sahi sahi. Even the Muslim Paki Dad in London, married to a White woman got carried away by his faith and got his daughter married off to a Talibani youth in Pakistan!
Lady R: What surprised me was she was forced into a marriage, was banished to Waziristhan, was raped by her husband, gave birth to a child, and was rescued by Pakistani Armed Forces. She had the option to return to London. Yet choose to stay back in Pakistan AND returned to Waziristhan!
Mariner: Maybe she experienced so much in 2 years in Pakistan that she was transformed in a fundamental way and did not want to lead a meaningless life in London. Else why?
P: Sahi, sahi. The power that the Fundamentalists wield in Pakistan is disproportionate to their numbers in Parliament. Look at the way they bumped off Benazir so easily.
Lady R: Surprising Pakistan has great actors, directors. This is definitely a must see movie.
Mariner: 3 hrs is a bit too long. Maybe a tighter editing would help.
P: Music was superb man. Barman, round 2….repeat. Waiting for another Paki movie to hit the theaters.