The release of the movie in Gujarat, which was delayed due to the sensitive nature of the film, may finally go ahead this Friday.
AHMEDABAD: Film director Rahul Dholakia’s efforts to bring the atrocities wielded during post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002 through the pathos of mainstream cinema may not be a lost cause after all. The release of the movie in Gujarat, which was delayed due to the sensitive nature of the film, may finally go ahead this Friday, sources claimed.
As human rights’ activists cried foul claiming “fascist and fundamental forces have warned film distributors and theatre owners of dire consequences if the film is screened”, multiplex owners had claimed it was because of the release of other big-banner films which had taken precedence.
Many controversial debates later, president of The Multiplex Association of Gujarat Manubhai Patel told DNA that “mostly the film will be released this Friday”. “We are still collecting feedback about the film from Mumbai and will take a final call today,” he said.
Parzania, starring Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika, is a story of a young Parsee boy who goes missing after a mob attacks his residential society. Though multiplex owners claim otherwise, human rights activists believe the release of the film was deferred owing to the sensitive issue depicted in the film. Gujarat being the source of inspiration for the movie and the issue still the bane of CM Narendra Modi’s five-year governance in state, human rights groups were lobbying hard to release the film.
Industry sources claim that with the Assembly elections scheduled for later this year, multiplex owners did not want to take a chance with the movie, particularly in the urban areas, where the government is popular due to its pro-development mantra.
An online petition demanding the release of the film was sent to the Chief Minister’s Office “This unlawful “ban” on Parzania in Gujarat is a slap on the face of those who uphold the values of free speech and justice. We express our compassion and solidarity to Dara Modi and family, whose son is missing since the massacre in 2002 and on whose experience the film is based, and to the hundreds of families in Gujarat and elsewhere who have suffered because of violence and hatred,” the petition stated.
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