Feb 07, 2007 04:32 AM
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The Gujarat riots happened in 2002. At a time when India was supposedly “shining”, the media was at its intrusive best, and committing genocide was considered next to impossible. However, let’s not delve further into the harsh realities of the Narendra Modi regime.
Parzania talks about the story of the gory Gujarat riots through the experience of a lovable Parsi family. Naseerudin Shah and Sarika (odd pairing) yet refreshing, with their 2 children stay in middle class Ahmedabad, with neighbours comprising the typical Gujrathis and muslims. Naseer works at the local cinema hall as the story weaves around the chemistry between the two kids, their school and their little musings. Alan, a student of Gandhi’s works, comes to Gujarat to complete his thesis and becomes a part of the Parsi family.
Alan, is in Gujarat to understand Gandhi and the non violence methods incorporated by the freedom fighter. However, he stumbles upon the news on radio of the Godhra train fire. The tension is brewing up in the city and on a particular day all hell breaks loose.
The Hindu mob gathers momentum, police in tow to burn muslim localities and muslims in particular. The next 15 minutes are full of bloodshed and cold blooded murders that force you to stop eating the popcorn or gulping the coke down your throat.
In the mayhem, the Parsi family lose their child and the story revolves on their efforts to search their loved one and the repercussions of the one-sided riots. On one side is the callousness of the police force, while on the other is the effort taken by the Human Rights Commission. The director links the carnage to the Jalianwala baug disaster of 1919 and the subsequent independent struggle.
This is the 2nd movie showing the Parsi view of communal tension after 1947-Earth. A nice concept, no doubt as it always gives an outside inside view.The director has plainly held the “parishad” responsible for the Godhra and Gujarat riots with the full co-operation of the police. The dummy reference of the CM is anybody’s guess. Clearly, cinematic liberty in India is at its zenith. Or it is the effect of the Congress at the centre of all affairs.
Coming back to cinema, there are a few brilliant scenes which deserve a mention. The scene where her daughter refuses to let her go while Sarika wants to search for her son, or the scene where Naseer meets Alan at the camp and breaks down, almost. However, full marks for the director for displaying a moment of humanity in the riot madness, when one Hindu lad saves the life of a Muslim woman. Also the scene where Naseer imagines his dead kid and surrounded by vultures spreads chill.
The kids shine throughout the movie. Sarika, back into the limelight, puts a controlled performance while Alan clearly steals some scenes from under Naseer’s nose. However, the seasoned actor that he is, Naseer brings the movie to life and slow death literally with his character.
The biggest drawback of the movie is its language. It is difficult to imagine Gujjus, Muslims and kar Sevaks speaking and abusing in English. The movie should have been made in Hindi to reach out to a larger audience.
All in all a nice effort to put forward the injustice suffered by hundreds of people of Gujarat. However, it remains to be seen if a movie talking about the train blasts in Mumbai or the bomb blasts in ’93 with a predominant Hindu sentiment is aired without any controversy.
