The Film Parzania - Remnants of an Unforgotten Tragedy

Unilike the previous few weeks, we spent this weekend holed up inside our house. Ofcourse, we did our routine grocery shopping on saturday but that was it. It was just bouts of sleeping, eating, TV and enjoying the view from the balcony. There was some time to catch up on the movie Parzania.

The DVD was lying around for a while. Parzania is based on the 2002 Gujarat riots that shook the communal fabric of India. The movie is very bold in its depiction of the events that led up to the riots. Parzania explores the tragedy, pain, violence and the conspiracies behind the riots through the simple tale of a family caught in the storm.

Most directors would not have the nerve to portray the Gujarat state government in bad light but Parzania delves deep into the state administration. It highlights the flaws behind the approach of the Government in the aftermath of the riots. This movie critiques the Indian society and its misgivings through the eyes of an American who comes to learn about Gandhi. There is a subtle constrast here as the American comes to Gujarat, the birth place of Gandhi, to learn about the non-violent ideals of Gandhi. Instead, he witnesses one of the most gruesome tragedies of all time.

The plot revolves around a Parsi (origins in Persia) family who lived in a predominantly muslim neighbourhood in Gujarat. Nasserudin Shah plays a very loving father in Parzania. His content life is spoiled by the communal violence that takes his son away from the family. Saritha is a resilient mother coming to terms with the loss of a child in Parzania. The viewer can feel the agony of the family as they frantically search for their son after the riots. The callous attitude of police and the senseless acts of the state authorities are skillfully woven into the grief of one family.

I remember being in Ahmedabad shortly after the riots. There were some reminders of the violence like the charred hotel complex in the down-town area of Ahmedabad. I remember walking through one of the pre-dominantly Muslim pockets in the city with my Bengali friend in search of some shopping bargains. There was some demonstration going on in the city commemorating a Hindu festival that day.

I can distinctly remember the piercing look in the eyes of the people in that area. Their expressions revealed the horror they endured in the past few months. Perhaps it was a grimace of intense hate towards life after the tragedy. My hindu friend and I were slightly unnerved while being in that area. She was fumbling to remove the 'bhindi'on her forehead, a mark related to the hindu faith. We never ventured into those areas again and the image of the people there haunts me in a strange way.

Parzania captures the plight of a terror-stricken community through a simlple story. It is effortlessly told but leaves a lasting impression. The violence of Gujarat riots is recounted yet again through Parzania.

There are many lessons to be learnt from history. Understanding history is important because history should not be repeated. Movies like Parzania send out this message to the masses. The message that terrible events such as Gujarat riots should never occur in a country of many religions.