You remember that book by Sooni Taraporewala I pointed you to? Well, turns out her fascination with her community has led her to make a film about them (also, a little bit of perspective about Parsi-based films in Indian cinema). All with contemporary issues and stuff, and an almost-entirely Parsi cast.
Bonus: There's apparently a scene in the film which the interior of a fire-temple has been recreated. I'm surprised there's not more hoo-haa about this, given how protective Parsis can be about these places. The film is probably worth watching just for that, if you've ever wondered what exactly goes on in there.
Now I feel like finding a gloomy old Irani cafe and trying to chat up the bespectacled (always bespectacled) owner about the film, before being (inevitably) shrugged off by the surly man, and deciding I'd rather just quietly enjoy my mawa cake and bun-pav-chai-extramaskakesaath.
Space, review please?
Update from comments: It's Bastani that's shut down (an old story about the state of Irani cafes here).
16.3.09
Hey, KM
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9 comments:
There would be hoo-haa if someone had actually let non-Parsis* into a fire temple and shoot inside. The rest is creative licence and it is a community of nice people really who are not randomly violent or angry.
*The reason why I wasn't allowed to attend my best-friend-from-school's wedding. :-(
I've been meaning to mail and tell you about this for days. It hasn't released here and I hope it will or I'll be terribly disappointed. It's got the whole bawa jing bang in it. If only Parvez Merwanji were alive...
Heh, it seems I can't open a page these days without reading about "Little Zizou" :) It does sound like a film I would want to watch.
About the gloomy old Irani cafe, remember the one near St. Xavier's in Bombay? What was it called now? The best damn lamb curry, custard and tea in the whole damn city.
Shefaly:
Ya, I know. But it is still quite remarkable that in all these years, there has been no real depiction of the interior of a fire-temple. Either nobody cares much, or they just have too much respect for the wishes of Parsis to make an attempt.
Space:
Heh - I'm dying to see this one 'love scene' where apparently Boman Irani has to pop Viagra pills. Also, the names - Artaxerxes, anyone? How wild.
KM:
Bastani! and Kayani! There were two of them - both opposite each other. Bastani was the one with that blackboard list of "No talking to waiter, no asking for change, no...", but it's shut now - family squabbles apparently.
Oh yeah, weren't they brothers or cousins or something?
Who knows? 'Never ask a Parsi about their genealogy' is right up there with 'Don't get Pri started on American Idol if you're in a hurry'.
Never ask a Parsi about their genealogy'
Or Aladdin's family about theirs...no, wait, that's genieology.
Wahhh Bastani is shut? Or both?
KM:
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice.
The Bride:
Bastani - update in post.
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