The literal translation of Zan Zar Zameen is merely women gold and land. But the emotional connotations of this phrase are many. These are priceless possessions for any man. In today's times is a woman an entity in her own right? Or is she just an 'item' which can be disposed of depending on her man's disposition and his religion?According to debut director Avantika Hari, things haven't really changed for women. And men still prefer to kill the object of their affections if they raise questions about ethics and morality. After Khuda Ke Liye in 2008, here is one more film about Islamic fundamentalists and the staunch ferocity with which they claim to protect their women.
A word of caution; many films on the same theme (Khuda Ke Liye included) despite the grim moments leave the viewer with the fragile hope about the gradual manner in which women have begun to take control of their own lives. Land Gold Women doesn't provide you any hope. Beginning on a note of despair, there is no respite whatsoever. Not a film for the feeble-minded or those looking for Bollywood style 'happy endings'.Nazir Ali Khan (Narinder Samra) is a quiet unassuming professor of history living in UK.Riyaaz plays on his brother's emotions and convinces him about returning home at the earliest, before the corrupt values of the 'whites' destroy both his daughter's morality and the reputation of the extended family.
Having reached a stage in life where not too many unexpected things are likely to happen, Nazir is proud of his daughter Saira (Neelam Parmar), a high school student who hopes to enter Cambridge. Creating the impression of being a liberal, Nazir dithers between allowing his daughter to enter a reputed university, or finding a suitable groom to whom she can be married off. Preferably in India . A fervent hope for most NRIs, not just the fanatics.Life in the Khan household which includes the head-covered docile wife Rizwana (Renu Brindle) and the bordering on adolescence brother Asif (Ali Zahoor) progresses smoothly till Nazir's older brother Riyaaz lands up on a visit.
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