The authors have studied the photoluminescence (PL) intensities of a-plane (11-20) GaN films (a-GaN) as a function of x-ray rocking-curve (XRC) linewidth values measured in both c- and m-axis directions. PL intensity of well-known luminescence lines such as 3.47 eV (bound exciton emission), 3.41 eV (basal-plane stacking fault related emission), and 3.29 eV (defect induced emission) are discussed in terms of XRC linewidth values. PL intensities reveal a close relationship with XRC linewidth measured in the c-axis direction, while an unusual relationship was observed between PL intensity and XRC linewidth in the m-axis direction. Inhomogeneous strain along the m-axis direction of a-GaN film is discussed as a cause of XRC linewidth broadening, rather than the formation of structural defects. (C) 2010 American Vacuum Society. [DOI: 10.1116/1.3388889]