Makers eye film fests for Soha, Vir's '31st October'

The makers of Soha Ali Khan and Vir Das starrer "31st October", based on 1984 riots, say everyone can relate to the film and that they want to showcase it at various film festivals.

Hundreds of Sikhs were targeted and killed in Delhi and other places across India by mobs in the aftermath of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh security guards in October 1984.

"Once you see the rushes, you all will get an idea. We are going to take the film to Berlin Film Festival, Sundance, and Cannes," Harry Sachdeva, the film's producer, told reporters on location of the film here.

Set in the backdrop of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the film is a true story of a family who survived the riots on the night of Oct 31 that year.

"This film is not just based on Sikh community, it's based on Hindu and Muslim communities as well. Each and everyone will relate to this film," Sachdeva said.

"It's a true life story of a Sikh family in 1984. We begin the film with Indira Gandhi's assassination and we show how a family survives the riot. It's a story about one night. Through the film the message that goes out is none of us got anything with these riots and it should not happen again," he added.

Sachdeva says director Shivaji Lotan Patil, who had bagged best director award for his Marathi film "Dhag" at the 60th National Film Awards, has promised him that "31st October" will "get a National Award".

Vir and Soha will be seen in altogether different looks in the film. Patil said he zeroed in on the two after a lot of screen tests.

"We felt Soha was the best and she will justify the character. Vir has never done an intense role. He is known for his comedy, but when we auditioned him for the role, we just loved it. The story is the hero of this subject and the characters will pull the film. This role was a huge challenge for Vir and he has done a wonderful job," said Patil.