Juxtaposition of a Neighboring Pariwar (Family)

Juxtaposition of a Neighboring Pariwar (Family)

Veer Zaara is film from 2004 set in the Punjab, Lahore, and Wagah boarder. Even though the location of the setting is very similar, the depiction of the two nations and their inhabitants are very different. What is especially interesting to me is the depiction of the most important element to life in South Asia, the familial unit. The depiction of Zaara’s family leaves the viewer with the feeling they are cold, unsympathetic, non-accepting and more concerned with the families name than Zara’s wish and well being. This family is juxtaposed with the warm Punjabi family, who is warm, accepting and duty loving people. This depiction clearly was produced during a time when Indo-Pakistani relations were tense. The film success is a sign of the times in an Indian culture who has learned to regard their new neighbors as less wholesome and even with hatred.

The film starts with Zaara fulfilling her grandmothers (Bebe) last request to have her ashes joined with her ancestors at the ghats of a river in the Indian Punjab. Bebe was the only one of Zaara’s family who was Sikh, coming from the Indian Punjab during partition. This point is interesting because Bebe seems to be the moral force of Zaara, passing down wisdom even on her death bed. So in Zaara’s family the wise come from India. In fear of her families reaction to Zaara fulfilling Bebe’s last wish, she flees for the Indian Punjab from Lahore only telling her best friend Shaamoo. On route Zaara is in a bus accident nearly losing her life after plunging many feet. At this point Shah Rukh Khan playing Squad Commander Veer Pratap Singh, saves Zaara and her ashes in a risky helicopter rescue. Before long the two have love in their eyes and because a bus delay, Zaara goes with Veer to his Punjabi village where they celebrate Lodi. What is interesting for this essay is how Veer’s family interacts with the videshi (foreigner). First, the family is very accepting. Veer was raised and accepted to be a son by his uncle and aunt. Many times during the visit to the village, they honor their Pakistani guest. Zaara bonds so much with Veer’s aunt that it is as if she is already an interregnal part of the family. Zaara is dressed in Punjabi garb and jeweled by Veer’s aunt and participates in the Lodi festivities. During Zaara stay she is riding on a bike with Veer’s uncle and he tells her about starting the village and school. And Zaara inspires the uncle to start a girls school that gives higher level education. During the Lodi festivities, Veer’s uncle dedicates the ground breaking ceremony to Zaara, the foreigner. Interesting enough Veer’s guardians by the end of their visit more than approved of the match between new found lovers. But then Veer finds out that Zaara is engaged to be married on the lines of political alliances. So Veer explains that he loves Zaara so much that what she need to do he will accept even if its means being without his love. Veer tells Zaara he would die for her and her happiness. The reception of Zaara and her fiancé (Raza) the viewer can instantly tell that Raza is not as accepting or loving as Veer.

On Zaara’s return to Lahore, she is hassled by her family. Her family is far from accepting a spouse being an Indian and non-Muslim. She tells her mother about her love, and Mairiam tells her that a women has to sacrifice everything for the family though her marital bond. Zaara’s father also tells her that she needs to marry to strengthen the bond between two political families. This is very confusing to Zaara because on one hand she is told to sacrifice for her husband and family, while on the other her Indian love is willing to sacrifice everything for her. The two ideals here are juxtaposed and the family of Zaara expects her to uphold family honor regardless of her own happiness and well being. Meanwhile, as the wedding approaches Shamoo calls Veer and he comes to Pakistan to save his love from the clutches of a loveless wedding. Veer interrupts a pre wedding celebration and embraces Zaara. This enrages Zaara’s family and her groom’s family. Miaram talks to Veer and he decides that he will honor Zaara’s families wishes and return to India. But Raza upset about the shame on the reputation of his family, wrongly accuses Veer as being a spy. He is then imprisoned for 22 years until Saamiya fights his human rights case in court. In the end, Veer is reunited with Zaara who had ran to the Punjab and was running the girls school opened by Veer’s uncle. The separated couple then goes back to India with a dramatic ending scene at Wagah crossing.

Through Zaara’s predicament with her family and their responses, it is clear that her family is not accepting and warm as her Indian love’s family. During the political climate of the film’s release, this depiction further comments on popular representation of Indian’s, Pakistani’s characteristics imposed on a Nationalists agenda. It is clear which family is ethical and loving and which is family unsympathetic. This is a basic filmic commentary on nature of the Indian and Pakistani family relations, which chooses the moral side of the Indian family. The love of the Indian family was over pouring, and accepting, while the Pakistani family were depicted as almost loveless. The juxtaposed depiction of the two families are fiction; but still show insight into dichotomy and alienation of Pakistani and Indians, especially the family unit, the moral base of society in South Asia.