Lines Movie Review: Hina Khan drives this film on love across Indo-Pak border

Hina Khan’s Lines, which released today, July 29, makes it clear that love stands above religion, borders and politics. It is a cross-border love story with a powerful ending.

India and Pakistan have more often than not had daggers out. However, love is something that always transcends boundaries. This is what Hina Khan’s Lines is all about. What happens when a man from Pakistan and a girl from Kashmir fall in love and get married? It’s not an easy affair, especially since the film is based at the onset of the 1999 Kargil War. Facing borders and biases, lacking a visa and what not, Lines weaves a story of bloodshed, constant gun shots, fear and anger. The couple, Nazia (played by Hina) and Nabeel (played by Rishi Bhutani), have lost their family members and all they want is to be able to spend their life together. Their love makes Nazia take steps that are illegal. Lines makes it clear that love stands above religion, borders and politics. Lines, as a film, is no different from the Bollywood stable of cross-border tales. However, it makes the right kind of noise with its powerful ending. Directed by Hussain Khan and written by Kunwar Shakti Singh and Rahat Kazmi, there are some heart-wrenching scenes that would tug at your heart. Without giving away much, the story starts with Nazia trying every possible way to make her grandmother meet her sister after 40 years. Eventually, she succeeds in bringing her to Kashmir from Pakistan. Nazia falls in love with her grandma’s sister’s son, who also accompanies her to Kashmir. After a simple desi romance, the two tie the knot and thus starts the real story. Nabeel goes back to Pakistan, leaving Nazia behind; the visas and permits come in between their love, and Kargil War breaks out. It pushes Nazia to take a step she perhaps shouldn't have.