no! all the final fantasy games storylines are connected! play from Final Fantasy 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.. if you skip straight to 9 the ENTIRE series will be ruined for you, plus you wont know ANYTHING about what is going on!
play 1 first
(note: i am joking, play 7 first)
you may not like the final fantasy series, they arent for everyone.. but if you click with FF7 like I did.. you will be a very very happy man..