Children movies and child actors have previously managed to make an impact in the industry and with audiences. Taare Zameen Par is a masterpiece of an example which has been preceded by Blue Umbrella, Makdee and the classic Mr India. Of course, animated Hindi movies are a complete rage with the entire population, my favorite being Bal Ganesh. Anyhow, this year Little Zizou is the first child movie in the offering. The movie has been viewed at a number of film festivals and has been greeted by lots of laughs in the audiences. Sooni Taraporewala has written some of Mira Nair’s most acclaimed movies including Salaam Bombay! and Mississippi Masala. This time round, Taraporewala has put on the directorial cap to create a laughing riot as her debut film. Belonging to the Parsi community, she managed to write the story in 10 days flat. Read on to see if Little Zizou manages to create any pizzazz or falls flat to the ground.

Xerxes (Jahan Batlivala) is a motherless boy who grows up in a predominantly Parsi neighborhood in the busy city of Mumbai. Just like any other child his age, the young boy has dreams and aspirations. Xerxes’ fantasy is to meet his favorite football player Zinedine Zidane, whose name has been “remixed” to give him, and the film, the nickname: Zizou. In true Hindustani style, he believes his mother is watching over him from above and will eventually grant his wish. He is joined by his brother Artaxerxes (Imaad Shah) who is indulging in young romance with his neighbor Zenobia (Dilshad Patel) and helps his odd friends, who are in the midst of creating a time machine. Add to the brothers a little sister Liana (Iyanah Batlivala) and the trio is complete. While she hates Xerxes to the T, she loves stray dogs in crazy amounts. The children’s father, Cyrus II Khodaiji (Sohrab Ardeshir), is the local Parsi healer who is out to disturb communal peace. In complete opposition, Boman Presswala (Boman Irani), is out to expose his hidden agenda through his newspaper (Yes, the Presswala has a newspaper), Rustom-e-Sohrab. Through this controversy, old relationships are broken, secrets exposed and new bonds are formed. John Abraham and Cyrus Broacha add to the Parsi-ness of the film in prominent cameos.

As a Parsi director Taraporewala succeeds and how. Not a lot is known about the Parsi’s but Taraporewala goes ahead to poke fun at her own community in the most nonchalant of ways. A born and bred Parsi herself, this makes it completely legitimate and allowed. She uses clichés that are associated with Bawa’s, as they are known, calling them “mad” and “eccentric.” On a more serious note, she beautifully executes some stereotypes associated with Parsi’s including how they prefer to marry within their own community to keep the bloodline “clean.” Taraporewala has taken a subject close to her own heart and focuses on their lifestyle which is virtually unknown to most movie goers. Her insight into the lives of Parsi’s and the detail with which she tells her story is worthy of accolade. The movie has a social message and is simultaneously hugely entertaining.

Somewhere down the line, the movie loses track of the initial plot and becomes one about communal issues. Zizou, his dreams and his constant need for love gets lost in the movie. Additionally, some of the scenes are completely exaggerated including the one where Boman breaks down after his newspaper is closed down and falls victim to a heart attack. Over the top.

Little Zizou has a fabulous Parsi star cast who are well-known in the Bollywood brigade. Little Jahan and Iyanah are fabulous in their parts and they have to be, after all Mommy is the director. However, that said, they are completely natural and switch between English and Gujarati with great ease. Same goes for the rest of the cast. Imaad Shah, who is the only non-Parsi in the film, too is fabulous to watch. Boman Irani and Sohrab Ardeshir are top notch. The supporting actors too lend a great hand. John Abraham is his hunky self and Cyrus Broacha is funny.

The children steal the show in this one, once again. The innocence in the eyes of little Xerxes as he questions whether his mother loved him and looks for attention from his father is heart breaking.

Conclusively Little Zizou is cute. It makes for a beautiful Sunday afternoon flick for the family which is fresh and different. If any director can bravely call her movie “hatke,” Sooni Taraporewala is that one filmmaker. The movie is based on clichés but that is exactly what makes it unusual. In the midst of all the weirdest of movies that have been releasing, this one is a sweet crazy watch. Enjoy!

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