By:
Taran
Adarsh,
IndiaFM
Friday,
March
24,
2006
With
the
influx
of
multiplexes,
novel
concepts
and
offbeat
themes
are
being
attempted
with
amazing
regularity.
The
fact
that
the
moviegoer
of
today
is
receptive
to
changes
has
given
an
impetus
to
'multiplex
cinema'
that's
slowly
and
steadily
taking
over
India.
Think
out
of
the
box,
is
the
new
mantra!
Being
Cyrus
is
a
sign
of
cinema
that
defies
the
stereotype.
It
travels
a
path
not
many
films
would
dare
to
venture
into.
Debutante
director
Homi
Adajania
not
only
opts
for
a
story
that
may
seem
bizarre
to
many,
even
the
execution
of
the
material
is
innovative
and
distinguished.
Being
Cyrus
is
definitely
not
one
of
those
routine
Hinglish/English
films
that
pretends
to
be
cool
and
with
the
times.
It's
more
on
the
lines
of
European
cinema
that
has
to
be
viewed
minutely,
for
the
layers
are
peeled
in
such
a
way
that
it
takes
time
to
fathom
the
goings-on.
If
you've
missed
an
earlier
link,
chances
are
you
wouldn't
comprehend
the
one
that's
unraveling
presently.
Now,
if
this
is
the
strength
of
Being
Cyrus,
it's
also
a
deterrent.
For,
a
film
like
Being
Cyrus,
though
well-made,
caters
to
an
extremely
tiny
segment
of
moviegoers
in
India:
The
elite,
the
thinking
audience
and
those
who've
an
appetite
for
hatke
cinema.
In
that
respect,
yes,
it
has
its
limitations!
Being
Cyrus
revolves
around
a
Parsi
family,
Sethnas.
A
retired
sculptor
Dinshaw
[Naseeruddin
Shah]
lives
with
his
wife
Katy
[Dimple
Kapadia]
in
Panchgani,
while
brother
Farokh
[Boman
Irani],
his
wife
Tina
[Simone
Singh]
and
father
Fardoonjee
[Honey
Chhaya]
live
in
Mumbai.
Cyrus
[Saif
Ali
Khan]
shows
up
at
Dinshaw's
house
in
Panchgani
and
offers
to
be
an
assistant.
He
spends
a
year
with
them
and
in
the
process
a
romance
seemingly
brews
between
Katy
and
him.
He
then
arrives
at
Farokh's
house
in
a
Parsi
locality
in
Mumbai.
Farokh
takes
care
of
their
father
[who
lives
in
a
room
in
their
Mumbai
apartment]
and
does
not
treat
him
too
well.
Cyrus
befriends
the
father.
As
the
movie
proceeds,
you
realize
that
everything
is
not
right
with
the
Sethna
family.
Not
just
that,
even
Cyrus
comes
across
as
a
strange
personality.
The
plot
slowly
unfurls,
revealing
morbid
and
unanticipated
sides
of
many.
Not
just
the
language,
even
the
premise
of
Being
Cyrus
is
English.
Meaning,
though
the
film
tells
the
story
of
a
dysfunctional
Parsi
family,
the
film
tends
to
get
intellectual
as
also
abstract
at
times.
Although
the
story
is
easy
to
comprehend
at
the
start,
you
realize
you've
to
focus
minutely
the
moment
Saif
starts
visiting
the
father's
dilapidated
flat
in
a
Parsi
colony.
Director
Homi
Adajania
has
handled
portions
with
dexterity.
Not
once
do
you
feel
you're
watching
a
film
that
has
been
directed
by
a
first-timer.
The
best
part
of
the
enterprise
is
the
way
Adajania
has
handled
the
various
relationships:
The
Naseer-Dimple-Saif
portions
at
the
start,
the
prickly
bond
between
Boman
Irani
and
the
father
[Honey
Chhaya]
and
the
climax,
which,
obviously,
we
wouldn't
want
to
reveal.
Even
the
ambience
at
the
Parsi
colony
is
perfect.
But
the
film
tends
to
get
abstract
at
times
[screenplay:
Kersi
Khambatta,
Homi
Adajania].
For
instance,
the
strategy
Saif
uses
to
frame
Naseer
and
Dimple
looks
far-fetched
and
is
difficult
to
absorb.
Even
the
end
--
although
it
comes
as
a
shock
--
will
not
be
comprehended
easily.
Ditto
for
the
sequence
between
Saif
and
Simone
in
the
finale.
Cinematography
[Jehangir
Chowdhury]
is
up
to
the
mark.
Background
music
[Salim-Sulaiman]
has
an
international
feel.
Being
Cyrus
is
embellished
with
fine
performances,
something
that's
expected
from
an
ensemble
cast.
Naseer
is
flawless
yet
again.
He
is
outstanding
in
the
sequence
when
he
cuts
his
foot
while
trying
to
pluck
flowers
from
a
well.
Dimple
is
first-rate
as
the
philandering
housewife.
Saif
is
only
consolidating
his
status
as
a
dependable
actor
with
every
film.
He
is
superb
once
again.
Boman
Irani
evokes
instant
hatred,
that
impactful
is
his
performance.
He
is
exceptional
in
the
sequence
when
he
breaks
into
a
fight
with
one
of
the
lady-neighbors
and
also
at
a
bonesetter's
consulting
room.
Simone
Singh
is
highly
efficient.
Honey
Chhaya
is
perfect.
Manoj
Pahwa
[the
cop]
excels.
On
the
whole,
Being
Cyrus
is
more
of
a
Festival
film
that
should
ideally
appeal
to
the
elite
and
mature
audiences
at
the
metros
in
the
domestic
market.
At
the
box-office,
in
the
absence
of
any
worthwhile
entertainment
in
the
marquee,
the
film
should
find
patronage
from
the
multiplex
audience
mainly.