A lyrical, feminist character study set in the Himalayans and based on an Indian folk tale, about a fiercely beautiful nomadic shepherdess named Laila who catches the eye of a lustful young herdsman.
Based on a Rajasthani folktale with a feminist twist, this gorgeously shot feature revolves around the fiercely beautiful nomadic shepherdess Laila. The action plays against the backdrop of the Kashmir conflict amidst the magnificent Himalayans. Laila and her proud hardworking people are high-altitude goatherds and shepherds who belong to a marginalized minority called Gurjar-Bakarwals, a mostly a Muslim nomadic tribe based in the Pir Panjal Range. The rugged passes where they roam are heavily patrolled by border guards and petty bureaucrats who keep an eye on the local comings and goings and take extra special note of beautiful women. Laila soon catches the eye of a lustful young herdsman, but if you think you can predict how the story will progress, prepare for some sly surprises. The film is divided into seven parts with the accompaniment of seven classical songs for each section. Director Pushspendra Singh was inspired by the poetry of the 14th Century Kashmiri female mystic poet Lalleshwari, creator of the earliest known works of Kashmiri literature. The tone and spiritual atmosphere are shaped by the spectacular beauty of the place and by Laila’s wisdom.
— Maryna Ajaja
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