Parzania
2005 · India
- Director
- Rahul Dholakia
- Screenplay
- David N. Donihue
- Music
- Zakir Hussain
Cast
What it is about
Allan, an American, arrives in Ahmedabad searching for answers and inner peace. He chooses India for his studies and Gandhi as the subject of his thesis, and there he meets the Pithawala family, who are Parsis. Through them and the teachings of a Gandhian, Allan tries to make sense of his own life. When the family looks for their young son, who vanished during the 2002 riots in Gujarat, Allan joins the search and tries to understand what caused the violence.
How it was made
The film is inspired by the true story of Rupa Mody. Los Angeles-based director Rahul Dholakia was deeply affected by the tragedy that shattered the family of a friend, an event that hit closer to home because it happened in his home state. The budget was around 700,000 US dollars, mostly provided by two Indian friends living in the United States. Dholakia chose English, arguing that communal riots are a global issue, and shot in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. Casting focused on believable faces rather than glamour, and Naseeruddin Shah agreed on the condition that the film be handled sensitively. Sarika returned to cinema after 18 years, and the script was revised several times with Shah and her.
Reception and legacy
The film premiered at the 36th India International Film Festival in Goa in November 2005 and reached cinemas nationwide in January 2007. Cinema owners in Gujarat refused to screen it, fearing backlash, so it was not released there at first. After an initiative by the civil rights group ANHAD, it was shown in some places in the state from April 2007 onward. The consulted sources do not detail specific awards.
Stills
Trivia
A low-budget project
According to the sources, most of the 700,000 dollar budget came from two of the director's friends living in the United States.
A return after almost two decades
Sarika returned to cinema with this film after 18 years away from it.
More films by Rahul Dholakia
Lamhaa
Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar BaarOriginal Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.