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MUMBAI:
Director Moustapha Akkad's Hollywood classic
Al-Risalah presents Islam in its true
spirit. This blockbuster that received rave
reviews both in the Arab world and the largely
Islam-phobic West (it opened in 3000 theatres
across the USA) has now reached India. Dubbed
in Urdu with music and a song by A. R. Rahman,
the film will soon hit theatres across the country
on 28 December 2007.
The
dubbed Hindi version has been produced by Oasis
Enterprises, which is owned by partners Yamshi
Ahmed and Saad Ahmed. Oasis Enterprises has
acquired the rights for the film. Al-Risalah
is being distributed by Anuj Saxena's Maverick
Productions who has distributed Om Shanti
Om in Rajasthan and Cash in Mysore.
Maverick
Production CEO Anuj Saxena says, "It is
an interesting different film with a unique
subject, so when the offer of distribution came
we found it to be a good praposition. The song
sung by A. R. Rehman is also outstanding. Maverick
is considering a couple of more mainstream films
for distribution in 2008."
"We
always wanted to bring this film to Indian audiences
because perhaps no other film presents a more
balanced, more nuanced image of Islam,"
said Yamshi Ahmed, co-producer of Al-Risalah
(dubbed version).
"No
doubt, watching this Oscar nominated film will
surely be a unique and enriching experience
for the audience for a better understanding
of Islam and the times of Prophet Mohammad,"
says Saad Ahmed, co-producer (dubbed version)
of the film.
Al-Risalah
is the story of Islam from its birth and evolution
to its triumph, with the best Hollywood production
values full of grandeur and emotion. The film
has been approved by Al Azhar University, Egypt,
the ulemas of the sub-continent and Mufakkir
–e –Islam, Maulana Dr Syed Kalbe Sadiq
Sahab Qibla who is the vice prsident of All
India Muslim Personal Law Board.
The
producers held a private screening at an Andheri
theatre recently where many eminent Muslims,
including some ulemas, watched it. "We
deliberately invited the ulemas because it deals
with a sensitive issue," informed Urdu
poet and columnist Hasan Kamal who dubbed the
movie in Urdu.
The
film releases first in Mumbai on 28 December.
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