Director Shoiab Mansoor’s debut film has made a huge impact worldwide, reflecting how modern Islam has left behind fatwa-mouthing maulvis and how most who embrace it would rather be remembered as proud citizens of a progressive Muslim world.

The film deals with the post-9/11 dilemma faced by Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular. Mansoor said: “People think all of us are fanatics. There is a minority which paints a wrong picture of our religion and nationality.”

Khuda Ke Liye has been greatly appreciated in Muslim countries. It has picked up the Award for Best Picture at the 31st Cairo International Film Festival, the Best Foreign Film award at the Muscat Film Festival and the Roberto Rossellini Award in Italy, apart from generous applause at the Goa Film Festival in 2007. It has also got great reviews in Pakistan. This film is due for commercial release in India on April 4. In 2007, another Pakistani film Mohabbtan Sachiyaan was to be released in India, but it didn’t see the light of day.

Mansoor is all smiles when he discusses the response the film has got, especially in Muslim countries. “Pakistan was amazingly positive. A survey was conducted several days after the movie was released. We realised that most people who saw it were not regular filmgoers. Some claimed to have stepped into a cinema hall after 30 years to watch this movie. I was also pleasantly surprised at the reception we got in Cairo and Muscat,” Mansoor said. This is the first time he has donned the director’s cap for a feature film, after spending 30 years writing scripts and and directing TV plays.

The movie is a result of shared talent between India and Pakistan. Naseeruddin Shah can be seen in a small yet powerful role. The post production work was done in Mumbai’s Adlabs Studio. It also stars Pakistan superstar Shan, top model Iman Ali and Fawad Khan.

Khuda Ke Liye has also received flak from maulvis in Pakistan as it “nullified” what they had preached over the years. “Fatwas were issued against us in Pakistan. In Karachi, madrasas had prepared a three-page fatwa warning people from watching the movie,” Mansoor recalled.