The Hindu : National : `Parzania' director's offer to Gujarat exhibitors

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 03, 2007
ePaper


<SCRIPT language='JavaScript1.1' SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?"> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?"> <IMG SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?" BORDER=0 WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 ALT="Click Here"></A> </NOSCRIPT>

National

National

`Parzania' director's offer to Gujarat exhibitors

Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD : The director-producer of `Parzania', a film based on the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat, has agreed to arrange a "special show'' for exhibitors in the State to help them decide whether to show it.

Mr. Rahul Dholakia, who was here for discussions with the exhibitors, told media persons on Friday that he expected the low-budget English film to be released in the State on February 9.

`Parzania' was released all over the country, except in Gujarat and Kerala, on January 26. While the exhibitors in Gujarat developed cold feet at the last minute apparently fearing reprisal from the Bajrang Dal and other Sangh Parivar outfits, it could not be released in Kerala because of "logistic problems." The film would be released in Kerala too on the same date.

Mr. Dholakia, himself a Gujarati, said he had not made the film for political propaganda or to make money. "It is a very powerful film based on a human tragedy and I made the film considering it to be my moral and social responsibility." He said soon after the riots, some Muslims based in the United Kingdom offered him money to make a film on the subject, but he refused as he did not want it to become propaganda material for any section.

Mr. Dholakia said the film was not against any individual or party. It only attempted to depict how the common people were affected during communal riots.

The intention was not to show which one of the two incidents, the Godhra train carnage or the retaliatory attacks in Ahmedabad and elsewhere in Gujarat, was ghastlier.

He said many people in Gujarat expressed their support to him and a desire to see the film. He agreed to arrange a special show for the exhibitors against his conscience. After the Censor Board passed the film, the exhibitors had no right to demand a special screening. "It is a major compromise I am making only to ensure that the people of Gujarat, where the film mattered the most, got an opportunity to see it."

He would not agree to exhibitors' demands for cuts. He had ``alternative plans in mind" like releasing it on the Internet, arranging for private shows or bringing out compact discs (CDs) or DVDs, if the exhibitors refused to show it.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National