The Hollywood Oscars night show on February 24, 2019 opened with the music group Queen singing two songs in honor of its founder Freddie Mercury, born Farokh Balsara, a Parsi Zoroastrian who died in 1991. A biopic on his life, Bohemian Rhapsody was a contender for the coveted award. After two numbers from Queen’s 1985 Wembley Concert, with everyone at the Oscars function cheering, fireworks rained down from the top of the stage and an image of the iconic singer flashed on the screen
(see alongside, courtesy abc/YouTube).
It was a highly emotional moment to see a Parsi, whose family originated in Bombay, being honored on the world stage. It was also very gratifying that the audience and 29.6 million television viewers saw the wise words of Zarathushtra — good thoughts, good words and good deeds — being flashed on the screen!
Bohemian Rhapsody won three major Oscars — for best actor: Rami Malek, originally from Egypt, who played Mercury; for best film editing; and best sound mixing — all richly deserved.
ARDESHIR B. DAMANIA
Davis, California
abdamania@yahoo.com
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