The Rock Star and the Mullahs

The Rock Star and the Mullahs is a 2003 documentary film directed by Ruhi Hamid and Angus MacQueen and by producer Pamela Friedman. The film follows the journey of the South Asian rock music band Junoon and addresses music in Islam. The film won the Outstanding story on South Asia Broadcast award at the South Asian Journalists Association Awards.

The film follows with the journey of the biggest South Asian rock music band Junoon and regarding music in Islam. Salman Ahmad, lead guitarist, travel throughout the country in search for the answer of one question for the clerics Where in Islam does it say that music is forbidden?. His journey in search of an answer, taking in affectionate fans and fiery preachers.A public ban on music gradually takes an effect in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after a radical alliance of rightwing religious parties gain power in local elections the previous year. Several music and film stores are closed, musicians have been harassed and vigilantes routinely tear down posters and torch tapes, decrying them as unIslamic. But in the town of Peshawar, near the Afghan border, an encounter with a busload of Pashtuns showed Salman Ahmad how the masses are still in thrall to music. Salman Ahmad is mobbed by men who ask for his autograph and then start singing the tune with which his band hit the big time JazbaeJunoon. When Ahmad asks them why they think the provincial government has banned music, he is told They want to listen to music themselves, they just dont want us to have it. ........

Source: Wikipedia