Touching film

There are two kinds of Parsis — those who loved the film Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi and those who were ashamed of it. I belong to the former. I thought the movie was made touchingly by Bela Bhansali Sehgal, bringing out the charming pathos of the Bombay Parsis with their well kept though simple homes, kitchens with flavors and the typical ‘haaji Mamma (Yes, mummy)’ boy Boman Irani, who cuts the umbilical cord only after he falls in love at the age of 45.

The portrayal of Shirin by Farah Khan (whose mother is a Parsi) is that of a fatakdi (firecracker) who is still a spinster because she is looking after her old comatose father. The scenes depicting typical meetings of the Punchayet, though over the top, still reflect reality because gars (swear words), manhandling and shouting are prevalent even today!

The sudden blossoming of love between the two adults is etched beautifully with dancing and songs thrown in, and the scooter-with-side-car adding to the charm! One feels there is still hope even after 40! If only Parsis married young it would be a boon to the community. Our idiosyncrasies provide comic relief via the "right Firoze” who loves Indira Gandhi, though it seems silly talking about this years after her death. This gives an idea of what dementia in old age can do.

Boman Irani and Farah Khan: middle age romance

Such nuances make Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi a very enjoyable movie. While we can argue for or against it, the non-Parsi intelligentsia loved it immensely, from right under our argumentative Parsi noses!

RODA D. HAKIM