Halal Love Story

A member of a Muslim religious organization, Rahim resolves to create a Halal film because the group regards most cinema as Haram. He commits to this project and starts seeking collaborators within his circle. The goal is to prove a respectful, permissible alternative to mainstream films.

Rahim encounters Shereef, an active street theater performer known for participating in protests. They discuss the idea of a Halal film and how it might be received by the community. The meeting sets the duo on the path to finding a script and cast.

To bring the project to life, they bring Thoufeeq on board to write the script. He later suggests that given practical constraints, a one-hour telefilm would be more feasible than a full-length feature. The crew agrees to adapt the plan accordingly.

The religious organization gives their blessing to a Halal movie, and Siraj is chosen to direct the project. Thoufeeq describes Siraj as mainstream, noting his flaws like drinking and not strictly adhering to religious rules. This perceived accessibility makes him an appealing choice for the project.

Casting begins with the constraint that the lead pair must be a real husband and wife to avoid non-marital romances. Suhra, the wife of Shereef, is selected as the heroine while Shereef is chosen as the hero. The decision reinforces the film's aim to reflect authentic relationships.

As filming commences, the performances turn out immature and clumsy, causing an abrupt halt to production. The team has to pause and reassess how to achieve convincing performances. The halt exposes the need for training and better direction.

Haseena, a casting director, steps in and provides basic acting coaching to the aspiring actors. During a training session, Suhra reveals a lie Shereef had told about her father when he died, which makes Shereef defensive. The moment deepens tensions but also accelerates character development.

By the end of the training, only six people, including Suhra, are chosen for the film, because the project requires a real couple. This tight casting ensures the film stays authentic to its Halal vision. Shereef remains part of the project due to the real-spouse requirement.

Siraj senses something off in the relationship between Suhra and Shereef and pushes to rewrite the script to fix the rift. He aims to reconcile the couple within the story to keep filming on track. The rewrite creates a tension-filled but purposeful shift in the narrative.

To resolve the tension, Siraj proposes an additional climax shot that would show Suhra and Shereef embracing. Thoufeeq opposes this, fearing it may violate the Halal standard by depicting romance in a forgiving, intimate moment. The disagreement intensifies the production drama.

The cinematographer suggests a workaround that could deliver the emotional payoff without breaking Halal guidelines. The plan proceeds to shoot a climactic hug while ensuring it's framed within acceptable boundaries. Thoufeeq ultimately interrupts the scene, insisting to halt the shoot, claiming a Halal cut has already been achieved.

With the tensions resolved, the film wraps up as Rahim and his family perform Salah while the movie plays on a television screen. The moment signals acceptance of the project within the community and the completion of the Halal film. The film ends on a peaceful, faith-centered note.