"Parzania is not intended to break up old wounds or to create a controversy of any kind" - Naseeruddin Shah 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, January 25, 2007 - 02:11 IST
Naseeruddin Shah has won awards and accolades for his brilliant performances in Bollywood over the years. But one
performance that is sure to be remembered as one of Naseer’s best is the role of Cyrus, a vulnerable Parsi father, in Rahul
Dholakia’s film Parzania. Read on to find out about the film, and Naseer’s meeting with the family that actually lost their son
in the murderous Godhra riots.
| The parents in Parzania are determined that
the child is alive. |
Tell us something about the movie Parzania.
Parzania is based on a true story, a true incident that occurred in the year of the riots in Godhra, five years ago. It concerns
a Parsi family that lives there in a Muslim territory. Parsi names and Muslim names happen to be very similar to each other. So
obviously the small boy in the family was mistaken for a Muslim by a rampaging mob, as a result of which he disappeared. Nobody
knows what happened to him. But it is assumed that he must be dead by now, because it has been five years and the child has not
reappeared. The parents, however, are still in Ahmedabad and have moved their house, are determined that the child is alive. It is
very sad and very poignant, but what can you say about a mother and a father and their feelings for the child? They refuse to
believe that the child is not alive and they keep hoping that someday the child will return. So I think the movie is a very touching
story and it also says a lot about how innocent people often suffer when a configuration such as the Godhra riots occur.
Is there any specific message that is put across through the movie?
Parzania is a plea for peace and understanding. The film is not intended to break up old wounds or to create a controversy
of any kind. It does not make any allegations; it does not point fingers at anyone. It simply states the facts while stating the story of
this Parsi family.
| Parzania is not intended to break up old
wounds or to create a controversy of any kind. |
Tell us about your meeting with Dara Modi’s family.
I met them for the first time yesterday (18th January 2007). I did not meet them before the shooting of the film. The purpose of this
film was not to portray the life of that particular family, or to do an impersonation of any member of that family, that was not the
purpose. The fact that we are Parsis does not reflect in our performances at all. We have not played our characters like Parsis at
all, with the typical Parsi dialect or anything like that, because that was not important in this film. What is important is the message.
So I met the family for the first time yesterday in Ahmedabad, it was a touching experience.
| The fact that we are Parsis does not reflect in
our performances at all. |
You have worked with your co-star Sarika earlier. How was it working with her in this film?
Sarika has grown greatly as an actress and is a thorough professional. Whatever has happened in her life of course is very
unfortunate. But I think one must always look at the positive side in whatever happens, and I think that her independence may just
be a good thing for her, as she will be able to discover herself as an actress.
| Sarika has grown greatly as an actress and is a
thorough professional. |
And how was it working with Rahul Dholakia?
Rahul had a very small budget. But he was very sure about why he wanted to make this film. I must say that he managed as
producer and director both extremely well, and it was difficult to shoot in many ways. He also had to keep the riots in mind, with all
the sensitivities of the situation. But I think he managed very well, he did a very good job. And I would give him very high marks as
a director.
|
Naseer and Sarika in a film based on Gujarat riots
