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All through my childhood days; observing my kith and kin, my unique set of relatives, my open rigid culture; I had so many questions springing up in my naive mind.
I dare not ask them ? Not even echo it in my mind ?
Not only for the reason that I was timid but also, over the years, I started to discover that most of these people around me had no answers for those innocent but pertinent questions?
Finally as an adult I have gathered the courage to ask these questions through IISTOO which I feel are as relevant as they were, then.
Some of the answers revealed themselves through my personal life experiences; some , still remain unanswered.
I love my culture. I love the way we put food above everything. I respect all those who have contributed to make our community known for it's entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
But, the unanswered questions still nudge me.
IISTOO is born out of that nudging. All of my childhood musings, put together.
It's not a story of a dysfunctional family. Please no! Not at all!!
IISTOO is the story of a functional family whose unique members, like the ingredients of the IISTOO, blend into each other in spite of their different tastes.
By the way did I tell you? IISTOO is a Parsi delicacy which has sumptuous use of different Vegetables - potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, yam, onions, peas, tomatoes (you could even add french beans and okra) kissed with jaggery and vinegar. Garnished with love and coriander.
Mostly when Parsi cuisine is talked about it's the Patra-ni-macchii or the Dhansak.
IISTOO remains the neglected one of them all.
Each character in IISTOO is like the ingredient in the delicacy.
Zeus - played by Shahaan Pardiwala is the heart of IISTOO.
The innocent questions come through him, which may make us uncomfortable but nevertheless they are thought provoking.
Zeus represents the generations to come which will stand up and ask ...when and where it is necessary to ? A generation which can either be blessed with a progressive today or cursed by the shadows of a weak present.
Motta pappa - played by Aspi Patel is the soul of IISTOO.
He represents the Generation that could have been instrumental in bringing about changes but is tied down by it's own chains.
Motta pappa stands for all those who want to move ahead with changing times but don't know How!
Under the facade of a Patriarch lies a vulnerable individual full of regrets and hopes.
Perizaad - played by Kainaaz Phillips is the invisible thread that ties everyone in the family together.
Like the jaggery in the IISTOO which is present but barely noticed.
In her smile too, which is rare, she carries the burden of all that she want's to sought out, mostly for others.
In many ways Perizaad is a sister I could never have.
Kekashru - played by Pratik Suratwala is the charade of Istoo.
He represents all those who try too hard to sell the concept of Kha Pa Ja ... Khao! Piyo! Jiyo! ( Eat! Drink! Live!)
He ogles at food and for him everything is a joke, mostly he laughs at.
In his humour he sometimes deflates the most intense Bubbles of tension.
Shahzaad - played by Shahen Pardiwala is the true reflection of most of the misunderstood generation.
For him religion is not something he carries around flaunting in form of a pendant.
For him religion is personal ... Between his God and him.
There are bits of me in all my characters but in Shahzaad, I can see ounces of me.
Mammi - played by Dhun Patel a generation that is stuck in time.
Masking under the rituals and lost in the glitter of celebrations, Lagan - Navjote (Wedding - Thread Ceremony ) almost as if in non-acceptance of the reality and changing times.
I suppose, we glorify eccentricity.
Pochu padigayuch ( s/he has lost it) is so commonly used in our interactions, the caricatures that the Hindi Film Industry portrayed us for so many years probably comes from our own doing.
Bhakrawala uncle - played by Yours truly Nozzer Pardiwala
It's not that we didn't find an actor for it but it was more for self-healing.
I have heard the sentence - "But you don't look like a Parsi" so many times all through my life it became very essential for me to play the part.
"But you don't look like a Parsi" In times when we are so aware about body shaming or gender comments the sentence is the most polite way to out rightly comment and derogate someone's skin color based on a false self perceived notion.
Worse, when it comes from your own kind.
Playing Bhakrawala uncle- I feel redeemed.
Aparna and Noshir - played by Rekha Mistry and Rahul Arora
Aparna with the bemused look, wonders "How are they any different then me?"
Aparna is the outsider. That's how some of us may perceive people of other communities.
Noshir is at the crux of the issue but oblivion to the fact. Moved in life he hardly cares.
He is the insider-outsider. That's how some of us may perceive people like him when we can't answer Zeus's innocent questions
Come - together let's peep within.
Maybe, in my quest, you may find some traces of yours.
Love
Nozzer Pardiwala
Enjoy the teaser of ISTOO, for now
Things you need to know about IISTOO
*IISTOO is a short film of 32 minutes duration.
*None of it's parts can be recorded or screenshot under the copyright act.
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