No escape to Parzania review

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I walked out of theatre, full of thoughts. Earlier I was waiting to watch this film and now having seen it, I feel as if I was waiting for this film to be made. Perzania is one of such great films of our times we can’t do without.

I lost my critical faculty somewhere in the middle of the movie and did not see it the way I usually watch cinema. Parzania is a dark and brutally honest movie and the worst is that it’s a slice of real life. Had it not been so, I would have certainly blamed Rahul for blowing things out of proportion and taking an “extremist view” of life. Rahul Dholakia’s courage to tell this story without mincing words is commendable. However, being inspired from a real life story is not the only great thing about Parzania.

I’ve read about the riots. Have also heard from friends who went there right after it to help the affected people. Have also seen a couple of documentaries on the genocide. However, the strength of Parzania lies in the reconstruction of the genocide and its aftermath.

Cyrus, a Parsi film projectionist is caught in the Gujarat riots. He couldn’t reach home, while his house is attacked by Hindu rioters. His wife Shahnaz, somehow manages to save her little daughter, but amidst the chaos that the violence creates, her son Parzan is lost. Having lost every thing to the riots, the life of this Parsi family turns into an endless wait for Perzan.

Dholkia introduces us to the debates and transformations around the incident through interesting characters. Allan, an American, narrates the story. We see the film through Allan's eyes. Interestingly he has come to India, to research on Gandhi, however what he witnesses is history in making before his eyes, people turning into demons and a family’s immense sense of loss. He summarizes “Religion is the cause and the cure” (I’m bad at quoting)

Somehow I found the Gandhist’s character to be clichéd and irritating. Would have liked to pass a judgment that he’s a cardboard cutout but believe, there might be many like him around. Would try to put it this way, Gandhi might be still relevant in our country but Gandhians have certainly become redundant. It’s time for Gandhists to make way for new age Gandhidiri.

Hats off to performances of Nasir and Sarika. Cyrus (Nasir) goes on sacred fast for nine days to get his answer from the God. He looks really emaciated and hopeless. Nasir can act with each and every muscle in his face.

The film reaches its climax in the Human Rights Commission hearing scene. Sarika renders captivating dialogues. Her delivery and expression are more powerful than a thousand documentaries on Gujarat riots. It leaves everyone speechless. I felt a chill traveling down my spine as she went on narrating the atrocities that she witnessed.Though there is a growing feeling that Gujarat has become thing of the past but I sincerely believe this feeling is suicidal.

Parzania reminds of what we witnessed mutely. It shows us our ugly faces. I would see this film again and again to realize how it feels to lose a dear one to a communal riot.I have only one issue with this film. I like it only because I believe in its message. Will it evoke the same emotions and feelings from a rioter? It might. Parzania in Hindi or Gujarat would have helped us find out the answer. I’m sure certain issues might have stopped the director.

Parzania is a must see. It’s not just a film, a testimony of the turbulent times we live in or thinking wishfully, a story of the vicious bygone era . Amen.