I was not allowed to Be a Nobody…..

It isn’t the best of times, for some reason I am looking for something that I do not know of, only hoping I will get the clue soon. My craving for space took me to the space where the Japanese Takio drum beats filled up senses of the universe. The need to communicate reached an epitome, but somehow the reconciliation of being in constant interaction with silence and voices it seemed a distant dream. Met up with two friends and the next day being an off, like the sweet surprise in midair (! :)) it was decided that I spend it on something more concrete. And as always the inox s and the Fame s is the perfect place. Only this time the film was set in Parzan’s fairyland, Parzania! Directed by Rahul Dholakia, the film stars Nasser( an all time favourite) and Sarika(what a comeback) and the bunch of the alternative actors in mainstream Hindi cinema. Set in 2002 post the Godhra riots the film was too real to be true. In a mohalla where Hindus and Muslims coexisted happily how the fangs of ugly side of Hindutva destroyed lives, buildings, dreams and memories. The story was direct and simple-The impact of a communal riot in Ahmedebad on a Parsi family. Midst the riot how a family loses their child and has not found him back. The child by the way was named Parzan. What strikes me the most in the film is its outright message. And it’s been five years since Godhra, we all know what happened, how meticulously the riot was planned. But still the perpetrators contest elections, and run campaigns like Vibrant Gujarat. The most amazing aspect is how power strategizes itself to play with the psyche of the masses. Till then they were leading normal lives. And the bone of contention is, the system that has perfectly adapted itself to the rulers. Irrespective of the knowledge of the process, the protectorates becomes the tool for the perpetrator to literally manufacture violence.

Slightly deviating from the film, its been five years since Godhra. Some 40 citizen’s report has been prepared and presented. There have been 17 chargesheets prepared for the case. 134 people have been accused in the process without any proof of their involvement, and most of them are Muslims. Maulana Umarji, the main accused as a terrorist used to be a maulana and was a part of the Shiv-Sena! And there are evidences of how statements are being forged, how the system itself is betting against all those challenging them about authenticity. The complete absence of reconciliation is amazing. There are evidences that cannot be clearer than prosecution of the perpetrators. The complete state of denial by the political stand is astounding. And there goes Narendra Modi, the star campaigner for Gujarat who in Harsh Mander’s words ‘reinforced his masculinity through Gujarat’. If one goes back in time, Godhra did not see the establishment of relief camps. There was no involvement of international agencies who come flocking for relief otherwise. And the whooping amount of Rs.19 crore given back to the Centre is a little detail we might have forgotten. Justice is a far cry! There is no acknowledgement that Godhra was the worst form of violation of Human Rights.

Coming back to Parzania, it is a true story. Apart from the little flaws like the fluttering of eyelids of the dead it was a tight script and detailed screenplay. But the Nasser religious journey was a little overplayed! The supporting characters have given a solid grounding and small little excerpts from chapters on humanity. As usual with all biases in place Nasser was wow, more than that I guess I was surprised with Sarika. The Ash of yesteryears it was almost a discovery to see her perform so beautifully.
Coming out of the theatre had to be with a heavy heart and the three youngsters got into a passionate discussion about how and why and what can we do to change it. The film has been banned in Gujarat and the whole fraternity expect a few of them kept mum. Its being said when Yash Chopra could not get to release Faana, you must be kidding if you want Parzania up there. However I realized the film had done something deep, I hated my identity as a Hindu. Though the Gita is as intellectually stimulating as the Quran Sharif but I found the baggage very heavy to carry. The BMC elections are around the corner and there were orange flags all over the city, keeping my fingers crossed.
How I wish I was allowed to be a nobody!

27th January 2007
02:43 hrs.