Land Gold Women – Zan Zar Zameen

Before I begin with the main post, let me make it clear that this is not a film review, nor is it a critical evaluation or analysis of any sort. This is a bunch of feelings and thoughts that aroused in my heart and mind, after watching this film.

Land Gold Women, a much acclaimed film directed by Avantika Hari, and produced by Vivek Agrawal revolves around a story of a family that is caught between their traditions and values on one side and modern thoughts on another.

On the surface, it’s a film about the age-old conflict of old and new, of past and present, of elder ones and young ones, but the film was about much more than all this.

Have you heard about Honour Killing? Are you fully aware of what it is?

This film exposed this very evil in disguise.

Wikipedia plainly puts honour killing as “the homicide of a member of a family or social group by other members, due to the belief of the perpetrators that the victim has brought dishonour upon the family or community.”

But appallingly, it’s not as simple as that, and that’s where LGW comes into picture.

Through the fragments of flashback of Saira and her father, Nasir’s story and Nasir’s ghastly confessions in a frosty voice during his detention, the film rips apart this vile.

This is one film where you can’t sit back, relax and watch the story flowing; neither can you focus on the technical nitty-gritty that you usually don’t overlook being a media person.

In fact, it’s very difficult to concentrate on the film itself. Your mind automatically starts getting infringed with disturbing thoughts. You can’t sit there without questioning yourself, questioning the system, questioning the fate, questioning the faith.

A friend was shocked to know that the punishment for such gory offence is just 15 to 20 years. In fact, I suppose that was what Avantika too was upset about. But, I just couldn’t think straight after watching the film. While the end credits were rolling, my mind was trying to wriggle out of the numbness.

All I was thinking after watching LGW is how Saira, who represented every girl next-door, met such a turbulent end. Every second girl could relate to her (me being no exception). She had not even an ounce of doubt about her trust towards her father, and his love towards her. God forbid, if more girls start meeting their end like Saira, the world will have no faith in the strength of words like love and trust.


I reached home with muddled thoughts and slept, hoping that there won’t be any other Saira in this world.