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[accordion title=”Being Cyrus”]
Homi Adajania’s ‘Being Cyrus’ (2005) changed the way Bollywood looked at Parsis. This psychological drama unveiled the dark sides of a dysfunctional Parsi family. Saif Ali Khan emerged as a capable actor after this film. “Being Cyrus” is a dark, comedic venture by the debutante director Homi Adajania that spins around the Sethnas – a Parsi family. IMDB LINK[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Such a long Journey”]
Circa 1971, Gustad Noble lives in a one bedroom hall rented apartment in Byculla, Bombay. He travels to work everyday by Central Railway to Victoria Terminus and walks to Flora Fountain to his place of employment, namely the Central Bank of India. He has three children, Sohrab – who has finished his college studies and is now being admitted, much to his dislike, to Indian Institute of Technology (I.I.T.); while Darius, his second son, and daughter, Roshan, are school-going; his wife, Dilnavaz, looks after the children and the household. Their neighborhood is filthy, people urinate and defecate near the wall which encloses their building. Gustad asks a pavement artist to move near his building, draw pictures of religious Gods and Goddesses depicting the four main religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism. The Artist agrees, and soon the place is transformed into a huge temple where people of all religions come to pay their respects. It is only a handful of people who know that Gustad is involved with a rebel RAW Agent, Major Jimmy Billimoria, who is actively involved with an extremist organization in East Pakistan, Awami League, aiding them financially and with manpower to overcome the Pakistani Government. The question remains what will Gustad’s plight be when the news gets out of his involvement in this activity, especially when he receives 10 lakh rupees to be deposited in small installments in his Bank, in the midst of sentiments running high, war being declared between Pakistan and India, emergency blackout conditions and air raid sirens. IMDB LINK[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi”]There have been films which have brought out a new side of the Parsi community. ‘Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi’ (2012) was a funny take on the lives of Parsis.Accordion Content Here[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Pestoonjee”]
Vijay Mehta’s ‘Pestonjee’ (1988) was about two friends who fall in love with the same girl. It depicted the complications of love and friendship. It ended at a point which satisfied every type of lovers. Phirojshah (Naseeruddin Shah) and Pestonjee (Anupam Kher) are two close friends. They attempt to do everything together, and they hope that they will marry the same day as well. Unfortunately, both go to see the same young lady, Jeroo (Shabana Azmi), and Pestonjee ends up getting married to Jeroo. Phirojshah has been stricken by Jeroo’s beauty and decides not to marry, and takes a transfer away from the couple. During the years, he keeps in touch with the couple by mail. While on a visit to the couple, he finds out that Pestonjee has a mistress, and Jeroo does not know of this. How will this effect Phirojshah’s friendship with Pestonjee? Does Phirojshah stand a chance with Jeroo? IMDB LINK [/accordion]
[accordion title=”Khatta Meetha”]
Basu Chatterjee’s ‘Khatta Meetha’ (1978) revolved around a Parsi widower who seeks emotional support. The film is still remembered for its melodious music.[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Earth”]
Deepa Mehta’s ‘1947: Earth’ (1998) had a Parsi family at the helm of affairs. Lenny (Maia Sethna, Shabana Azmi), a Polio-afflicted girl, narrates the story of India’s partition. It’s 1947 and the borderlines between India and Pakistan are being drawn. A young girl bears witnesses to tragedy as her ayah is caught between the love of two men and the rising tide of political and religious violence. IMDB LINK[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Encounter: The Killing”]
Ajay Phansekar’s ‘Encounter: The Killing’ (2002) was the story of a police inspector Sam Bharucha who didn’t want his son to turn into a criminal. Inspector Sam Bharucha (Naseeruddin Shah) is an honest and diligent Police Inspector. He frequently comes across youth gangs, calling themselves “bhai”. He also has marital problems with his son himself calling himself a “bhai”, and associating with criminal elements. One day during one of this patrols, there is a shoot-out between a youth gang and his police party. A number of youth are killed. Various family members come forward to claim the deceased bodies of the youth, save for one. This intrigues Bharucha, and he sets out to find out why. He gets an anonymous message from a caller, calling himself Poonappa Awade (Dilip Prabhawalkar). Bharucha meets up with Poonappa, but doubts his credibility, as Poonappa confides in his him that the dead body of the youth belongs to a very rich and influential family. When Bharucha meets with the alleged parents of the youth, he is told that their son is abroad, in America. Bharucha has now to decide whether it the parents or Poonappa who is telling the truth. IMDB LINK [/accordion]
[accordion title=”Ferrari Ki Sawaari”]
Director Rajesh Mapuskar’s ‘Ferrari Ki Sawaari’ (2012) showcased the absurdities of a normal Parsi life. Fantastic performances by Sharman Joshi and Boman Irani made the film a hit. How the pursuit of an Indian cricket legend’s Ferrari makes a young boy’s dreams of playing cricket at Lords a reality. IMDB LINK[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Parzania”]
Rahul Dholakia’s ‘Parzania’ (2007) was based on the real life story of a boy named Azhar Mody. The film was praised for its hard hitting content. IMDB LINK[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Little Zizou”]
Written and directed by Sooni Taraporevala, ‘Little Zizou’ (2009) featured two Parsi families that learnt to adjust with each other. Boman Irani, Immad Shah and Shernaz Patel played the lead roles in the film. IMDB LINK [/accordion]
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