Soul Searching Parzania
Its around 1:20 am, had good Sunday as compared to my usual ones. I was home the whole day and since we were dubbing on and off for Nishabd, I had lost on many films to catch up with. Evening I decided to catch up on not one but two movies. They being Traffic Signal and the other being Parzania, and I saw them back to back. So from eight pm onwards till now I was busy watching these films. Having worked with street kids myself when I was working with Support, an NGO working with the street children, drug addicts and Commercial sex workers, it was easy for me to relate with the film and the life these people lead. Just that Madhur summed it up in one location and that is Traffic Signal.
But what has really inspired me to sit up wide-awake at this hour and write is Parzania. It’s indeed a disturbing and touching film. It’s about the struggle of a family to search their son lost during a riot that took place in Ahmedabad after the Godhra massacre. This film looks into how systematically the right wing fundamentalist Hindu’s used the state machinery to massacre Muslims as a part of the revenge of the Godhra massacre. All throughout the movie, I kept thinking of how religious identities have literally ripped us human beings apart. While I was watching the film, I was numb and shocked to see what religion can to do us and badly it can corrupt our minds that we can go to any extent. But is it true? Are we so weak as people that just because we have faith in our so-called respective beliefs and religion we will do anything? I stopped being a believer after the 1992-93 Babri Masjid Demolition riots. I did not know what a word like communalism meant. I had seen belongings of Muslim families being thrown out of their flats. I still remember one Muslim friend asking some of my elder brothers friend that how safe was it for them to stay in their house, I still remember Noor-Shama Bakery being converted into Jai Maharashtra Bakery, I still remember the shop of a Muslim owner being burnt. All this has happened at Vikhroli. Though the activists yielding swords and lathis did try to attack this Muslim friends but it was foiled by the generosity of the local goons who were few years later after making a name in the underworld were killed in an encounter. This did not deter this gentleman from shifting to a locality, which had more Muslim population. The series of events had just made him loose all his faith in his world that he had grown up into a young man. He was married got married in this house, did his schooling and some college from this house. He lost his dad in this house, got his sister married while they were in this house. A house, which they had lived forever as a part of the society dominated mostly by Hindus. They had shared Diwali with the Hindus side by side; the Hindus shared the sheer Khurma during Eid. Every thing was just fine as both were living in peace till I saw posters of Lord Rama with a Bow and arrow pointing his finger to with his arm stretched. That was the time I for the first time heard of Babri Masjid, that was the time I for the first time probably heard of Babar the Muslim ruler, who supposedly built a Mosque in the place of something which again I heard for the first time called ram Janmabhoomi. We were a group of very close friends, we still are, but what hit me was, how the so-called Hindu wave had affected my friend’s minds. All of a sudden these guys started to visit temples and offer prayers. Never before in our four years of togetherness had I seen them do this. Though none of us ever discussed it within ourselves but I sensed things were changing. I too at times visited the temples along with them. But never ever we discussed it amongst ourselves. I think it must be because of our own socio-cultural-religious differences. The riots took place and till date things have never been able to be as they were. Rather they have worsened.
My point is why, why do we love our religion, caste, creed so much? Can’t we take it lightly? Why the fuck should religion be such a great issue in our lives when basic things like education, employment, and general well-being are not being taken care of? Why in spite of the fact that after witnessing riots after riots we still see them taking place somewhere or the other? It hurts; it hurts no end to see Humans kill humans. And that is why a film like Parzania will stay in our minds for a long long time. In fact whoever reads this should ensure they see it, plus as a part of a movement ask as many people to watch it and maybe learn something from it. Why the fuck is it being banned in Gujarat? Is it because the Moral police are ashamed of themselves? Chutes, you would have never done what you have to that beautiful state of yours?
Naseerbhai as Cyrus Pithiwala Rocks and So does Sarika as his wife Shernaz Cyrus Pithiwala, wonder why she must have stopped acting? The performances by Allan (Corin Nemec if I am not wrong), Sheeba Chaddha, Asif Basra, Rakesh Chaturvedi, Raj Zuthshi, Srivas Naidu and all the other cast is so authentic that you cannot stop but empathize with what the people of Gujarat or for that matter any riots must have gone through. Last but not the least hats off to Rahul Dholakia for coming up with this film. You rock Sir; I think you have made a very sensitive and touching film. Hope this film manages to put sense in some people and in the next Riots stops at least some of them from killing our fellow beings.
As for Azhar’s parents are concerned on whose life this film is based and who went missing after the riots, I hope one day, one day he returns back, with the same smile that his father had left while going for work that fateful day.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
“I kept thinking of how religious identities have literally ripped us human beings apart…I was numb and shocked to see what religion can to do us and badly it can corrupt our minds that we can go to any extent” i totally agree.. i think it’s when people start to read too much into things..that simply start problems…i mean a simple statement could be analyzed in so many different ways… ‘red rose’ could represent ‘love’ to one person and ‘blood’ to another…even if the writer was simply trying to say ‘oh look there is a red rose and it’s beautiful’ :| …. hopefully that makes sense..
When I found out that Parzania is in English, it just put me off the movie; I just could not picture/grasp each of the characters speaking in English, otherwise I would have bought the pirated DVD (cos it did not release where i live.) and would have watched it.
Did he made the movie for film festivals?:-?
@Honhaar: read the answer to the last question on this site in this interview with rahul on rediff
http://in.rediff.com/movies/2006/aug/30rahul.htm
“Did you feel lucky when that clearance happened?
Hell, yeah. When you talk of censorship in India? I was very worried, and when I started making this film I wanted to make it in English just because I wasn’t even sure if it would get released in India….”
Surendra,
Thank’s for this review. I missed it last year when it played in California, so I am happy that I may have another chance to see it in the theaters.
That said, I have an overview of the political/religious disturbances in Gujurat and Bombay, but only an overview. I would love some book recommendations so I can learn more as so many movies based on this history are now being released.
Interestingly enough, many of my friends are from Gujurat, many of my friends are from Bombay, and yet I have never been able to engage anyone in an in-depth conversation on any of these topics…
Godhra only acted as a catalyst for wat happened in Ahmedabad, the hindu muslim divide is never as imminent as it is ahmedabad, more than a thousand muslims were burnt, yet the only case which got publicity was the Best Bakery, an entire society in Naroda Patia area of ahmedabad was burnt down with ppl inside, u wont belive, even a former local muslim MP was butchered. The divide only got worse after the riots, the road separating the hindu soceity from the muslim was termed as the LOC,
Well i remember watching bajrang dal activist excercising in their traditional khakhis with a fat lathi, remember ppl knocking my house’s doors for chanda, they were collecting chanda to stage a fight against the kashmir militants, all these happened before godhra……
mine was primarily a hindu dominated soceity…. it was mandatory that a male member from each family to keep watch at night, something called as thali peeth which the women folk of ahmedabad had developed came into being, they wud start banging their vessels on arrival of a muslim mob, runmours used to spread like wildfire…a rumour was initiated “kattuon ne hindu soceity ko jala diya, chalo maa chodein, and ppl frm their houses came out screaming with swords in their hands…..swords were distributed in front of my eyes to ppl.” well i m ashamed to say this, but during one such rumours, even i picked up an iron rod and became a part of the mob before my father found me and gave me one tight slap.
now wat i m writing are precautions which hindus used to take post riots when curfew was imposed for about a month in ahmedabad.
I recently wrote about my experiences as a journalist covering Water http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2007/jan/29suparn.htm
the responses it got has left me in shock, 90% of the respondents were against Water being made!!! The first question they would ask is would she make a film against Islam or Christianity? I wonder since when did Water become a anti Hindu film……….read those messages, it is like a wake up call, a very harsh reality check of the times we live in
Suparn: You support movies like Water, Fire to be made? What are these movies with no entertainment, no information, no conclusion, nothing at all. Deepa is sucker for publicity, making controversial movies and getting famous. People live on such movies and they like to be in the news. Water is well made but thats about it. The whole intention looks to make a controversial movie and get famous. I still think for a country like India, its completely a wrong movie from someone who we can’t even call an Indian.
Suparn:
if as an artist you or say being a creative person other artists dont catch the pulse of the present time then there is some lacking in the creativity and creativity has taken a stubborn route then, an ego based freedom of expression.
If as citizens we keep close our eyes from the ground realities then as creative people we may avoid our duties even more. We discussed in length just other day on PFC how times have changed and it cant happen now that one can live like a plastic body. If others in your surrounding are unable to understand the importance of liberty, freedom, rights, privacy and above all “bonhomie” then you will be complelled to create a boundary wall around your house so that atleast you are living your life without any disturbance. This is fact that Deepa Mehta cant dare to make any film which reveals shortcomings in her religion, in the sect she belongs because she knows very well there nobody talks about freeodm of expression and she will be crushed badly and whole her family will be seen polishing shoes of people outside of religious buildings. Thats a truth and we cant close our eyes from this fact. History tells us again and again that this is the trend. In her religion she will make Komagatamaro because thats a case which will bring her praise from her community but in Hindu religion she will never be able to make anything which throws light on good things in hindu religion. In that way yes Water is anti Hindu and Fire was anti Hindu. She is not a healthy minded film maker who should be supported. Anytime A saint Kabir is welcomed who may rebuke Hindu muslim sikh equally but not a paranoid Deepa Mehta. Thats a message of time. A Gandhi is welcomed but not Jinnah, Hedgewar, Bal Thakray, Advani, Bukhari, Bhindranwala etc.
A Manmohan Desai is welcomed who shows social harmony in film but not a biased Deepa Mehta or super intelligent artist MF Hussain. Cowards needs to be controled and censored. the day they become equal daring towards any kind of bigotry people will lift them on their heads and will welcome with garlands but till they are biased their efforts will be criticized.
HG,agree with u. The film was damn good but wish it was in hindi. The impact would have been different. All the actors are so good and so authentic with their body langugae even when speaking english, just wondering what would it have been if it was in hindi.
Suparn, we really live in difficult times. Everyone was a point of view and every other person thinks he/she is rite. But sometimes I feel Deepa Mehta invites controversy as well. No doubt that a filmmaker should have every kind of freedom but that doesnt mean that he/she cant opt for a middle path. I still dont understand why she wasn’t willing to change the name of the two characters….Radha and Sita. They could have been anyone.
And about Water going for Oscars, it was like “one tight slap” prog. of MTV. On whose face, we all know.
@Surendra
Parzania,a land where buildings are made of chocolates and ………
It is an intricately made movie which leaves you dumbstruck in the end.Parzania is a courageous attempt to portray what happens in our country in the name of religion,caste,creed…..
I was moved by Naseer’s and Sarika’s acting,although all the actors were good in the movie.Even more by Sarika’s.Towards the end of the movie, when she cries in front of the HR commission,that scene was heart rendering,she is such an amazing actor.It was exceptionally well done.Naseer’s scene in the theater when he watches his son’s memories in a flashback was rivetting.
The movie should have been in Hindi but I am sure it was purposely done for a peaceful release.
I am happy that atleast some people are trying to speak of our times through such movies ,I am sure that it is not going to affect those bastards who did such brutal acts in any way but atleast it will tell us that what kind of a degradation our system and our society is going through.
A father goes to the police station just to be robbed of all his money,a mother is forced to sign a legal document for her son,peaceful families are thrown out of their house on the road,old men are burnt,little girls and old women are raped,the entire localities are burnt,children are killed…..
Go and watch Parzania and I am sure it will make you numb…………..
I saw Parzania yesterday. It has shaken me. Rahul Dholakia ur a very brave & honest director. Keep it up. We need films like this made very often.
Some time ago, I happen to meet somebody from Ahmedabad. I just asked him “how did Modi win back after the riots?” & he said “he had to win because we all (so called blind hindus!) fully support him. He has done us hindus very proud. Today no muslim has guts to raise his voice & head against hindus. Mr. Modi has done a wonderful job of teaching them a lesson which their generations will not forget” I was speachless. God forgive them for they dont know wat they are doing.
Today Gujarat govt says ‘Parzania’ can open up old wounds. I ask them why are they so scared to see their crime. Confront the truth, correct ur mistakes. Say sorry to people. Bloddy talking of old wounds! Where was this theory of old wounds gone when Mr. Advani tried to open old stories like Babri Masjid? Bloddy Shit! If u feel old misdoings should be buried then why did u do it in Ayodha? Shame on u all.
I say Sorry to all the people who got affected by my so called Hindu brothers. PLz pardon us.
mee to raj…..i feel ashamed of myself
Suparn,
Why do you think 90% of the responses were against Water being made? I mean these are not illiterate people being led by Hindu Fundamentalists, right? I am guessing these are decently educated people that can log onto the net and type in responses. So could it be possible that you are a little out of touch with reality? Could it be possible that most people are disillusioned with film-festival type movies that pretty much follow a set pattern?
Guidelines to win media acclaim and film festival awards:
1) The film should be about India – Check
2) Poverty – Check
3) Silly Hindu customs – Check
4) Period Film with not much emphasis that the movie is set some 50-60 years ago – Check
Results:
Film festivals will appreciate the “courage” of the filmmaker.
The movie will be hailed as “progressive” and “honest”.
Make films for the Indian market and await the verdict of the audience. Not for some western and indian-leftist media types who appreciate these movies just because they confirm their stereotypes about India and Hindus.
I am not saying what’s shown in Parzania is wrong. What happened during those riots was disgusting. The state govt should have been suspended and prosecuted. But I am not going to go out and say that I am ashamed of the Hindus. I am ashamed of humanity and religion as a whole. Both sides (Hindus and Muslims) of fanatics are equally disgusting. Actually all religions that encourage intolerance are disgusting. Let people live in peace. So for every Parzania, there should be movie about the other side of ugliness. But who will make it? I think every filmmaker is scared of being labeled a Hindu fundamentalist. I don’t think they have the courage (Hello, Mr.Rahul) to make a film on how a full compartment full of people were burnt alive. I mean, all religious fanatics are bad. Have the courage to show both sides. Or have the courage to make separate films that show the ugliness of each side.
Phoenix,
I will tell you why Deepa Mehta wasn’t willing to change the names of Radha and Sita. Because she can not only get away with it, she will make herself a lot of name doing so. She knows that the media and the intellectual types will support anything that the Hindu fundamentalists oppose. I say we should screw both sided. The silly fundamentalists who have their won agenda and the media/intellectual film makers who also have their own agenda. Just let people leave in peace and respect their sensibilities man.