"Parzania is a place where the buildings are made of chocolate, the moutains of icecream, and you can play cricket all day long" wish it were true, really really wish it were true. After watching the movie you want to find a way out of’here’ and into Parzania. Where is Parzania?
Where is Parzan? Amidst the communal massacre in Ahmedabad after the Godhra train burning incident, Cyrus and Shernaz’s 10yr old son, Parzan, gets lost and the wonderful simple life of a spirited Parsi family is shattered, shattered into a million pieces that no one can help put back. His 8yr old sister is still smiling, but only because her mother wants her to be happy and is still awaiting the day she would tie a rakhi to her brother so that he can protect her for the rest of her life. Built around this central story are the lives of a cynical American researching Gandhi, a Muslim tea-stall owner who contemplates vengance when his father is killed, an older hindu couple fending for themselves, a blackmarketeer who guides the rioters to the homes of muslims, but cannot reconcile with his involvement later on.
The movie shows the dark side of religion, politics, communalism, etc. etc, but most importantly it shows the dark side of our "Chalta Hai" attitude. While we(the collective Indian) may want to soar, the only way to do so is to shed this attitude completely. "Chalta Hai" should become a banned word.
While the movie may glaringly expose one side of the communal riots it squarely lays the blame on the government and law enforcement that failed the people - hence the obvious ban of showing it in Gujarat.
Movie**: Attention to detail is good. I love a couple of the segways -
The line that says God only burdens heavy loads on those who can bear them - refering to Shernaz, stays with you for a little while. And so also does the one that says religion is the cause and redeemer of this evil.
Actors:*
Sarika does a great job as a strong level headed mother, whose grief is poignant as she is torn between the loss of her son, yet trying to keep the sanity of her husband and smile of her daughter. If you think Guru’s soliloquy at the inquiry commision was good, Sarika far outdoes Abhi in a similar scene with simple and meaningful words spoken like a composed, yet shaken, mother would.
Naseer is brilliant as usual showing us that a simple stoop can speak louder than words in the world of movies.
The kids play their part well, the focus is a lot more on the parents.
Corin Nemec’s part(cynical American) seems embellished at times, his anguish seems overbearing, but that may be owing to the story more than anything else.
Great Movie - worth your support if it indeed can help find Azhar Mody, Dara and Rupa Mody’s 13yr old whose true story is shown here.