Parzania

What worked: The narrative of the movie is engaging, disturbing and well executed overall. Since the movie was based on true incident, it was a difficult watch but let me understand what triggered and how the riot destroyed many lives. The story is beautifully presented and the climate of the mood is captured well, making it a watchable movie What did not work: I would say the length of the movie could have been shortened by reducing many of the family scenes, scenes with dramatic touch or scenes were not that important in the story telling. Final verdict: recommended

Everyone must watch to understand what hardship did people of Gujrat suffered during riots in 2002. Parzania has to be one of the very well made movies Indian cinema has given us in the last decade. Parzania cut open the wounds of Gujarat's scarred past, and received backlash and appreciation in equal amounts. The film was based on a superb plot which revolved around a boy called Azhar who goes missing during the Gujarat riots in the year 2002. Even though the film won a National Award, its cinematic excellence was not considered enough for political parties to let it screen in Gujarat, where it was fiercely banned.

Watch Parzania Full movie in HD on https://youtu.be/HohX1dUcjvw

There were just 20 odd people in a huge cinema hall in Bombay when I watched this film!! More people in India need to watch films like these. And sadly it will probably never be released in the state of Gujrat, where all this took place. This is a heart rending look at the riots in Gujrat that took place in 2002 in "response" to a "terrorist" act in Godhra, Gujrat where a train was burned and supposedly hindus were victimised. This film is based on a true story. Not as graphic as you would imagine, the film portrays the life of a Parsi family whose son was lost in the riots, or may I say organised genocide. The main focus is the family and the loss they suffer as also the apathy or rather the role of the police and the incumbent government in the massacre of thousands of Muslims/non hindus. The sub plot deals with an American PHD student doing a thesis on Gandhi, and his own journey of self realisation, dealing with his alcoholism and his painful past. All actors have done a wonderful job. The director, himself a Hindu (Gujrati) has done a wonderful job, and kudos to him for fighting all the opposition he probably did face while making this film.

Every citizen and human being need to see this types of real truthful ness movies.. instead of fantasies..

After the disastrous 'Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar', Dholakia is back with something completely different. No need to say that he has shown great improvement as a director in 'Parzania'. Even though there have been many movies that have depicted the political conflicts between Hindus and Muslims in India that have lead to bloodshed, 'Parzania' takes a closer look at the tragedy that happened in Gujarat in 2002.

The film deals with a sensitive and poignant issue but perhaps under the wings of a more experienced director, 'Parzania' may have been a better film. Many of the scenes before the riot appear Bollywoodish and some of the scenes thereafter appear dramatic enough to interfere when it may have worked better had it been treated with subtlety. The Allan character is poorly written. At first he's portrayed as a caricature hippy-tourist type who switches to a whiny alcoholic before becoming a do-gooder. The writer fails to show a convincing transition. I also don't understand the point of Cyrus's quest which he undertakes in order to find answers.

Much of the movie is seen through Cyrus and Shernaz's point of view and those are the parts that worked best. It also helps that the aforementioned roles were played by gifted actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika. Shah downplays Cyrus with élan but it is Sarika who is outstanding. She owns each and every one of her scenes. Parzan Dastur is very likable. Of the supporting cast, Raj Zutshi and Sheeba Chaddha are superb.

Flawed it may be, but 'Parzania' is far from being a bad film. It is worth the watch. Dholakia may not have been the best choice but he took a brave step and perhaps in the future he can tackle such sensitive issues with more skill and thus do more justice to the story.