Parsi Bol 1 to resurrect juicy and lesser-known Parsi-Gujarati idioms-Sooni Taraporevala
Sooni Taraporevala and Meher Marfartia: The ladies who archive Parsi humour
With collaborations for the book Parsi Bol 1 and now Parsi Bol 2, amongst their many efforts to preserve Parsi tradition, Ornella D'Souza talks to Sooni Taraporevala and Meher Marfartia on capturing the true Bawa spirit
Meher-Sooni Meher Marfatia and (r) Sooni Taraporevala
After reading Parsi Bol, it was shocking to realise that nobody had thought of doing this before. It's as scary as losing the recipe for dhansak and lagan nu custard..." reads the blurb by actor Boman Irani on the back cover of Parsi Bol 2 by screenwriter-photographer Sooni Taraporevala of Mississippi Masala and The Namesake fame, and journalist and author Meher Marfatia.
Parsi Bol 2 continues the jovial tone of Parsi Bol 1 to resurrect juicy and lesser-known Parsi-Gujarati idioms. For those who missed out on the bestselling Parsi Bol 1, part two is an amalgamation of Bol 1 with 50 additional pages of new idioms. Like its predecessor, Bol 2 dissects each idiom into a first line in Gujarati, with the second, third and fourth line transliterating, translating and lastly, giving the meaning of the idiom.
The new phrases range from being risqué
(Suhrah chhuh noh kato, meaning 'Hands of the clock at 6.30' or 'impotent')
and nonsensical (Hormusjee Batla nakh kan kapla or 'Hormusjee Batla cut his nose and ears')
to mocking (Jehvooda choo – 'Face like a cow-catcher')
Steam Train Cow Catcher FACE
and revolving around money (Birla nehapyoo, Tata nehapyoo, muhnehnahiapyoo or 'Gave the Birlas, gave the Tatas, not to me').
knowledge on theatre, music and films to the joint family she was part of. But it was Taraporevala who encouraged her to set up the publishing label. "Self-publishing looked so intimidating, but she demystified it for me. We are first friends, then collaborators. We know each other's families well," says Marfatia.
Parsi Bol 2 continues the jovial tone of Parsi Bol 1 to resurrect juicy and lesser-known Parsi-Gujarati idioms. For those who missed out on the bestselling Parsi Bol 1, part two is an amalgamation of Bol 1 with 50 additional pages of new idioms. Like its predecessor, Bol 2 dissects each idiom into a first line in Gujarati, with the second, third and fourth line transliterating, translating and lastly, giving the meaning of the idiom.
The new phrases range from being risqué
(Suhrah chhuh noh kato, meaning 'Hands of the clock at 6.30' or 'impotent')
and nonsensical (Hormusjee Batla nakh kan kapla or 'Hormusjee Batla cut his nose and ears')
to mocking (Jehvooda choo – 'Face like a cow-catcher')
Steam Train Cow Catcher FACE
and revolving around money (Birla nehapyoo, Tata nehapyoo, muhnehnahiapyoo or 'Gave the Birlas, gave the Tatas, not to me').
knowledge on theatre, music and films to the joint family she was part of. But it was Taraporevala who encouraged her to set up the publishing label. "Self-publishing looked so intimidating, but she demystified it for me. We are first friends, then collaborators. We know each other's families well," says Marfatia.
"Sooni's had fantastic ideas, such as a red ribbon marker to go with this yellow book," says Marfatia. "Meher gets right into details, something I hate doing! I admire her enthusiasm, because I often get tired of this book," adds Taraporevala.
