'Khuda Kay Liye', 'Fahrenheit 9/11' best cinematic works on WTC attack

New Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) It's been a decade since the attack on New York's World Trade Centre took the world by storm, and filmmakers and documentary-drama makers have since then churned out about 40 works. Of them, Pakistani filmmaker Shoaib Mansoor's 'Khuda Kay Liye' and the documentary 'Fahrenheit 9/11' seem to have earned maximum appreciation.

A multi-layered film, Mansoor's 'Khuda Kay Liye' highlighted the clash between moderate Muslims and the fundamentalists in Pakistan. It also showed how Muslims are viewed with increasing suspicion in the West after 9/11. The well-made film, with a superb performance by Shaan was released in 2007 and critics appreciated it by describing it as a thought-provoking movie.

Hollywood, too, kept drawing references from the tragedy and showcased it in various documentaries including 'Fahrenheit 9/11' (2004) and 'Inside 9/11' (2005) as well as movies like 'World Trade Center' (2006), 'United 93' (2006) and 'Reign Over Me' (2007).

While 'World Trade Center' and 'United 93' failed to attract audiences at the box-office, American filmmaker and political commentator Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 9/11' became the highest grossing documentary of all time.

Moore's work takes a critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush, the war on terror and how it was covered by the media. Shown in over 42 countries, after its release in the US and Canada, 'Fahrenheit 9/11' reportedly earned over $220 million worldwide in one year.

The Hindi film industry, one of the most prolific in the world, wasn't far behind in tapping the subject.

In 2007, one of the most talented and respected actors, Naseeruddin Shah, made his directorial debut with 'Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota' that focussed on the terrorist attacks on the US.

Two years later, Kabir Khan dwelt on the post-9/11 consequences through his film 'New York', which starred John Abraham, Katrina Kaif and Neil Nitin Mukesh. The film was appreciated wherever it was screened.

Saif Ali Khan-Kareena Kapoor-starrer 'Kurbaan' of 2009 had the consequences of 9/11 as the main plot.

Even Shah Rukh Khan's 'My Name Is Khan' (2010) touched upon the aftermath of 9/11 and it did splendid business in the overseas market.

Apart from this, in 2004, US-based Indian filmmaker Haider Bilgrami made 'Bandhak' which was about a professional who is killed by a racist following the World Trade Center attack.

There were other docu-dramas and TV series that captured various situations and events leading up to 9/11.

'Stairwell: Trapped in the World Trade Center' (2002) dealt with a group of people trapped in a sub-basement of the Twin Towers after it collapsed, while docu-drama 'The Flight That Fought Back' (2005) reconstructed the events that led to the crash of United Airlines Flight 93.

A year later came 'The Path to 9/11' (2006), a mini-series capturing the events leading up to the 9/11 attack. In the same year, TV film 'Flight 93' chronicled the events that happened on Flight 93.

Another documentary, 'The Heart of Steel' about a group of ordinary citizens who were determined to volunteer after the attack, was released in 2006.

Even after 10 years, filmmakers haven't had enough of the subject - the stories related to relationships, loss and sorrow revolving around 9/11 still inspire them.

'The Love We Make' is an upcoming film that outlines singer Paul McCartney's experiences in New York following the attack. Another film in progress is 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'. Starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, it deals with a son mourning a father lost in the attack.

(Shilpa Raina can be contacted at [email protected])