The Rock Star and the Mullahs (2003)

Salman Ahmad is the popular lead singer of the Pakistani rock band Junoon. Their music and lyrics reflect a moderate interpretation of Islam, rooted in Sufi tradition. Salman is also UNICEF's spokesman for AIDS prevention and has publicly promoted peace with India. However, recent gains by fundamentalist Islamic parties in Pakistan put Junoon at odds with hardliners due to their public profile. *WIDE ANGLE* follows Salman as he travels to Lahore, a tolerant city, and Peshawar, a fundamentalist stronghold, to explore the religious and political divisions within the Islamic world. The mullahs seek to ban Junoon's music, but the band enjoys widespread support, including from Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. The film reveals a complex portrait of modern Pakistan, a key nation in the fight against terrorism.