
Being Cyrus is one of the many contemporary
English films in India. The main reason to watch Being Cyrus would be its unique storyline. It is a fresh flick that falls in the genre of psychological drama that revolves around a dysfunctional Parsi family. It is directed by Homi Adjania. Being Cyrus stars
Saif Ali Khan (Cyrus Mistry),
Naseeruddin Shah (Dinshaw Sethna), Dimple Kapadia (Katy Sethna), Boman Irani (Farrokh Sethna), Simone Singh (Tina Sethna), Honey Chhaya (Fardounjee Sethna) and Manoj Pahwa (Inspector Lovely). Being Cyrus was released in India in 2006.
The Sethna family residing in Panchgani comprises of a retired sculptor, Dinshaw and his wife Katy. Dinshaw`s brother Farrokh, their father Fardoonjee and Farrokh`s wife Tina live in Mumbai. A stranger named Cyrus Mistry enters their life. He is also the narrator of the story. He arrives at the Sethna household in Panchgani. Cyrus introduces himself as a wanderer who claims that he is enamoured by Dinshaw`s artistic works and asks if he could he his apprentice. The Sethna couple agrees and soon the young man becomes an integral part of their lives. Katy makes advances towards Cyrus, which he tolerates.
With time Cyrus understands the couple better. While Dinshaw is nothing less than an eccentric but a nice man, his wife, Katy is promiscuous and she is bored with the slow paced Panchgani life and her spiceless marriage. She has an affair with her brother-in-law Farrokh who lives in Mumbai. Katy makes Cyrus got to her father-in-law Fardoonjee, who lives in an extension of Farrokh`s flat. As Cyrus keeps frequently visiting Fardoonjee, the young man realises that te old man is being ill treated by his younger son. On the other hand Farrokh`s timid young wife, Tina, can only be herself when her domineering husband is not around.
The plot soon turns into a murder mystery with Fardoonjee being killed. As the police investigate the case more murders follow including Farrokh Sethna. Soon it is revealed to the audience that Tina and Cyrus are related-- they are siblings. It was their plan to victimise the Sethna family.
In Being Cyrus Saif Ali Khan delivered one of the best performances of his career. He is supported by the matchless performances by Simone Singh, Naseeruddin Shah and Boman Irani. Honey Chhaya in the role of an old man is outstanding. The fast pace of the film and flawless direction by a debut director makes Being Cyrus one of the highest grossing English films in India in 2006.