MUMBAI: A special screening of Rahul Dholakia’s English film Parzania, for the film’s distributors and select audiences in Gujarat on 6 February was cancelled due to pressure from a social outfit, Bajrang Dal.
The decision to call off the screening was taken by president of the Gujarat theatres association Manubhai Patel after receiving threats from Bajrang Dal. The film’s release in Gujarat, which was to be decided after today’s screening, continues to be in limbo.
Dholakia, who says he has lost a lot of money trying to convince distributors in Gujarat to screen the film in the state, feels that the human element of Parzania has been ignored by those opposed to it.
Parzania is based on the real life story of a Parsi couple coping with the disappearance of their son during the Godhra riots of 2002, and stars Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika in lead roles.