Khuda Kay Liye

Khuda Kay Liye

Year: 2007

Runtime: 168 mins

Language: Urdu

Director: Shoaib Mansoor

DramaPolitics and human rightsBollywood emotional dramasShow All…

The story examines the turmoil faced by Pakistanis and Muslims worldwide after 9/11, depicting the clash between fundamentalist and liberal believers. Modern, Western‑educated Muslims struggle with criticism from hard‑liners while the West views them with suspicion, often labeling them as potential terrorists because of their faith or names.

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Timeline & Setting – Khuda Kay Liye (2007)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Khuda Kay Liye (2007). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 2000s

Set in the early 2000s, the film unfolds in the wake of 9/11 and the global counterterrorism climate. The time frame shapes personal choices, family loyalties, and religious rhetoric. Geopolitical tensions intersect with intimate journeys, affecting marriages, careers, and perceptions of Islam.

Location

Lahore, London, Afghanistan, Chicago, Guantanamo Bay, Pakistan

Khuda Kay Liye unfolds across Lahore, London, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Chicago, and even Guantanamo Bay. The settings trace a transnational arc: from the brothers' musical homeland in Lahore to London's diaspora, to Afghanistan's harsh realities of forced marriage, to Chicago's music school, and finally to a high-stakes legal and geopolitical backdrop in Pakistan and Guantanamo Bay. Each place anchors a different facet of the film's exploration of faith, freedom, and resilience.

🕌 Lahore 🗽 London 🗺️ Pakistan 🏔️ Afghanistan 🗼 Chicago 🪖 Guantanamo Bay

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:39

Main Characters – Khuda Kay Liye (2007)

Meet the key characters of Khuda Kay Liye (2007), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mansoor (Shaan Shahid)

A gifted Lahore-born singer and the elder brother of Sarmad, Mansoor carries his family's musical legacy. He travels to Chicago to pursue music and falls in love with Janie, who supports him by helping him reform his life. After 9/11, he is arrested by the FBI and detained for a year in Guantanamo Bay, before being deported back to Pakistan and beginning the road to recovery.

🎶 Music 👨 Brother 🏙️ Lahore

Sarmad (Fawad Khan)

Mansoor's younger brother and a talented musician who is drawn into a conservative faction led by Maulana Tahiri. Under Tahiri's influence, he participates in an arrangement that results in Mary being married to him in Afghanistan, and he commits a violent act against her as advised by the maulana. Traumatized by the consequences, he ultimately withdraws the case and confronts the harm he's caused.

🎶 Music 🕌 Religion 👬 Brother

Maryam (Mary) (Iman Ali)

A Westernized British-Pakistani woman living in London who falls in love with Dave. Her father deceives her and takes her to Afghanistan to marry Sarmad, where she is forced into marriage and becomes pregnant. After enduring trauma, she is eventually freed with help from her father and the British government, and returns to educate girls in her village.

🚺 Women's rights 🌍 Cross-cultural 💔 Trauma

Janie (Austin Marie Sayre)

A fellow music student in Chicago who falls in love with Mansoor and supports him as he reforms his life. They marry, framing a hopeful blend of music and romance against a backdrop of political and personal upheaval.

🎶 Music ❤️ Romance

Maulana Tahiri

An Islamic activist who exerts influence over Sarmad, pushing a conservative interpretation of Islam. His guidance helps justify control and punishment of others, escalating the conflict around Mary and the brothers.

🕌 Religion 🧭 Manipulation

Maulana Wali

A Maulana who advocates for a peaceful, humane interpretation of Islam and challenges misuses of the faith in the courtroom. His involvement frames Islam as a force for reform and justice.

🕌 Religion 🕊️ Peace

Sher Shah

Sarmad's father who steps in to protect Mary within the limits of the law and under British protection, playing a pivotal role in seeking justice.

👨 Father 🛡️ Protection

Mother of Mansoor & Sarmad

A guiding maternal figure who supports both sons' artistic ambitions while navigating the tensions between tradition and modern aspirations.

👩 Mother 🎭 Family

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:39

Major Themes – Khuda Kay Liye (2007)

Explore the central themes of Khuda Kay Liye (2007), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕌 Religion and Misuse

The film critiques how religious rhetoric can be used to justify violence and control. Maulana Tahiri's influence on Sarmad shows how faith can be manipulated for personal or political ends. Maulana Wali's courtroom intervention reclaims Islam as peaceful and compassionate. The narrative argues that true faith should foster justice, not oppression.

🎶 Music vs Conservatism

Music stands as a central life force for both brothers, challenging conservative forces that seek to silence art. Mansoor's Chicago journey and his romance with Janie highlight music as a path to personal growth. Sarmad's path is shaken by religious extremism, illustrating how art and faith can clash under pressure. The post-9/11 context adds external stakes to their artistic pursuits.

🚺 Gender and Rights

Mary's forced marriage and assault illuminate gender oppression within patriarchal structures. The film traces her resilience as she fights for autonomy and education for girls. The court case becomes a vehicle to challenge patriarchal norms and reframe agency within faith and family.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:39

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Khuda Kay Liye Summary

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