Backdoor censorship in Gujarat
Five years ago, Rahul Dholakia and Indian writer and director, set out to make a film about a friend who lost his son during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The result was Parzania, which is based on the true story of 13-year-old Azhar Mody - called Parzan in the film - who disappeared during the riots, which began after 59 Hindus died in a train fire for which a Muslim mob was initially blamed.
There are a number of politically competing investigations still looking into the cause of the train fire, but its consequences are well known and tragic: a Hindu- led pogrom against the Muslims of Gujarat, in which 1,100 people were killed, some by immolation, and many women were raped.
The film is currently being shown in nine Indian cities and has received a great deal of critical acclaim, particularly for the performance of its two leading actors, Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika who play the father and mother respectively. Time Out Mumbai credited Dholakia for having managed to “remind viewers of what really happened in 2002, and why it’s important not to forget.”
But not in Gujarat, the director’s home state. And here’s where it all becomes a bit murky.
The film has been approved for general release but the Multiplex Owners’ Association (MOA) have decided that they would not allow the film to be shown. In the fallout that followed, a name emerged - that of Babubhai Patel, also known as Babu Bajrangi, one of the leaders of the fundamentalist Hindu Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Bajrangi, it was claimed, had been threatening the cinema owners and forbidding them from screening the film.
However, when asked by a reporter whether Parzania should be screened, Bajrangi simply said, “I need to watch the film first.” Dholakia refused to invite Bajrangi to a preview and the MOA turned to the police commissioner of Ahmedabad and asked him for a certificate of clearance for the film. He said that was not his job.
The MOA ended its efforts in resignation, Dholakia flew back to Bombay and Parzania was effectively banned in Gujarat.
No-one has claimed either credit or responsibility for keeping the film out of the state, which is odd in itself, and the question remains, however, whether Bajrangi would really be able to issue such diktat and whether anyone would have paid any attention to him if he’d tried. Himal thinks not and suggests that the ultimate source of the ban is Gujarat’s Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.
Dholakia is now planning to try to organise private screenings of Parzania in Gujarat, partly out of a faint hope that they would help Azhar Mody’s parents learn what happened to their son.
The film ends with a photograph of the boy and an appeal for information.
Sunday 04 Mar 2007 | Paul | India
