’31 October’: Opens up wounds that never healed (Movie Review, Rating: ***) By Subhash K. Jha

Film: ’31 October’; Director: Shivaji Lotan Patil; Starring: Soha Ali Khan, Vir Das; Rating:***

I was very young on the day Mrs Indira Gandhi died. I remember the nationwide horror of losing a beloved leader and how it was overshadowed by the horror of watching Sikhs being dragged out on the streets and burnt alive for the ghastly assassination.

I remember everyone said, ‘How can the country go on without her?’ But it did. History of genocide has a way of repeating itself, unless we learn from the mistakes we make in the past. So here we are 32 years later looking at a film that recreates the chilling carnage of an innocent community made vulnerable by the crimes of a few.

The film, made with touching earnestness, opens on the morning of October 31 depicting an ordinary day in the life of an affable Sikh family. The cut-and-dried treatment of the film, and our knowledge of the dreadful events that transpired on the day, give to the narration a kind of authority and power to move and shake us even when the goings-on onscreen are quite often underwhelming, both in terms of execution and performance.

Made on a meager budget, “31 October” is a big-hearted attempt to bring us the ghastly incidents on that fateful day through the eyes of a traumatized Sikh couple, played with reassuring sincerity by Vir Das(very convincing in his turban) and Soha Ali Khan(whose Punjabi accent makes a guest appearance at the start and then vanishes as we go along).

Their two little sons and their austere yet idyllic low-income existence in a Sikh-dominated locality of Delhi is ripped apart by communal violence so savage it shakes us to even see it onscreen so many years later.

Like Mani Ratnam’s “Bombay”, this film humanizes the terrible violence by throwing in two little boys and sundry characters who are chillingly real either in their demonized avatar or their humanism during the days of acute malevolence. Specially gripping is the Sikh family’s car journey from imminent death to relative safety with the Sikh patriarch locked in the trunk of the car to avoid detection.

Also Read: ’31st October’ already a landmark for me: Soha Ali Khan

For all its made-to-shock manipulation, the scenes of violence and savagery shock as they are rude reminders of how vulnerable we all are as individuals and as a community. That day it was the Sikhs. On another day it is the Muslims or Hindus. Who is safe from separatist violence in this country?

The melodramatic yet moving film makes this point with telling affect. It also shows the psychological warfare that human beings unleash on one another when political crimes intervene in ordinary lives.

When the assassination happens the stunned nation is shown glued to the radio while the affable Sardar-hero is instantly isolated by his office colleagues. Outside, his wife out shopping is caught in the sudden eruption of violence. Elsewhere a drunken NRI mona Sardar pleads with the rioters to be killed like his friend was, and a drunken lout offers asylum to a panic stricken Sardarji in exchange for his cash and gold chain, only to hand him over to the mobs.

Such characters and incidents belong more to a long-running Doordarshan serial than a feature film. Much of the drama is theatrical and the acting is plainly amateurish. But “31 October” is a film that must be seen more for what it tells us rather than how it says it, about a shameful chapter from Indian history.

At the end we see the now-old Sikh couple, trapped in a web of frustration and rage, still waiting for justice.

IANS

Actor-filmmaker Ajay Devgn feels his forthcoming directorial venture “Shivaay” will inspire children. Ajay’s “Shivaay” has associated with Sonic’s TV show “Shiva” and the actor is sure that the film will get a good response from children.

“‘Shivaay’ and ‘Shiva’ have the same value system and mind set, both love their families and friends and destroy evil to restore balance in society. I’m sure kids will be inspired by both the characters and love Shivaay as much as they love ‘Shiva’,” Ajay said in a statement.

Also Read: Bored of seeing action in Bollywood films: Ajay Devgn

The father of two has acted in, directed and co-produced “Shivaay”. The film, which is slated to release on October 28 around the occasion of Diwali, will clash at the box office with filmmaker Karan Johar’s “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”, which is currently facing problems for featuring Pakistan actor Fawad Khan.

Apart from Ajay, the film also stars Sayyeshaa Saigal, Erika Kaar, Vir Das and Girish Karnad.

IANS

Ajay Devgn’s upcoming Bollywood film “Shivaay” does not feature Pakistani actress Saba Qameer, the official representative of the movie said on Friday. “Actress Saba Qamar or any other Pakistani actor or actress is not a part of ‘Shivaay’,” read a statement issued by the movie’s publicist on behalf of the filmmakers.
There was speculation that Saba is a part of the action-oriented thriller. But the clarification comes in the wake of ongoing developments wherein the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association have demanded a ban on Pakistani artistes working in India.
In an ensuing development, certain cinema chains in Pakistan have decided to withdraw the release and exhibition of Indian movies.

“Shivaay” is directed and produced by Ajay Devgn, who also stars in it. Also starring Vir Das, Sayyeshaa Saigal and Erika Kaar, the movie will hit the screens on October 28.

IANS

Actress Soha Ali Khan, who is gearing up for the release of “31st October”, says the forthcoming film is already a landmark for her.

“I say that every film is ‘the film’ for me…Some films that come out in the box-office they become important to you depending on the box-office results. This film is already a landmark for me,” Soha said. The 37-year-old actress added that no matter what the fate of the film is, she will still be proud of it. “Of course, we want the film to make lots of money, but whatever the fate of the film is…I will always be proud of the film,” she added.

Soha will be seen for the second time in a de-glam look in “31st October” after the 2006 drama film “Rang De Basanti”.

Asked her opinion on the de-glam look, Soha said: “Yeah, it is great… I would get ready in 10 minutes, It was just attaching the long braid that I had to do and there was no make-up.” The “Tum Mile” star added that without make-up, an artiste is “completely exposed”.

“I like such films because otherwise behind the glamour, you lose the depth of the character and in this you can’t hide behind make-up at all. You are completely exposed and I find that challenging,” she said.

Also starring Vir Das, “31st October” is based on the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination and its repercussions. Soha and Vir essay a Sikh couple in the movie, which will hit the screens on October 7.

Watch the Official Trailer of 31 October

The actress, who is the younger sister of actor Saif Ali Khan, says the film has shown the 1984 riots through the eyes of one family and that the makers chose to stay away from politics in the film.
“We stayed away from politics in the film. We’ve shown the 1984 riots through the eyes of one family. It is a very humane take on what has happened. There are references to certain local leaders but we have not named them. But for people, who know enough about the 1984 riots, they’ll know exactly who we mean,” Soha said.

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