31st October trailer: Vir Das, Soha Ali give us a heart-wrenching drama

The first trailer of Bollywood film, 31st October, which stars Vir Das and Soha Ali Khan, was unveiled on Wednesday at an event in Mumbai. The film revolves around a Sikh family’s plight during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The two-minute long trailer clearly establishes the fact that it is less of a political statement and more of a human drama. It shows how people helped or attacked ordinary Sikhs during the chaos that followed Mrs Gandhi’s death.

Read:Playing a Sikh man in a serious film was tough, says Vir

Speaking at the launch, writer-producer Harry Sachdeva said, “We have made this film because we wanted this generation to see and know what had happened in 1984 when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated. We have not made this film as a political statement, but as a tribute to all those who came together to display acts of heroism by saving their Sikh brethren during the riots.”

Vir Das, who plays the protagonist Devender Singh in the film, said, “It was quite a challenging role for me as I am neither a Sikh nor a father, so for me to bring out the emotions of a family man desperate to save his family from violence, was a new experience. Having said that, I am really happy that I got to play this role and I hope everyone likes it.”

“There are loopholes in our legal system. But if people understand that how people from other communities help this Sikh family then our purpose behind making this film is served,” he added, elaborating on the storyline.

Soha, who plays Vir’s wife Tejinder in the film, added, “This film is neither about politics, nor about any particular community. This is the story of a family and their survival against all odds.”

The film has been produced by Harry Sachdeva and Magical Dreams Productions Pvt Ltd and co-produced by Anand Prakash. Directed by National award winner Shivaji Lotan Patil, 31st October is scheduled for a worldwide release on October 7.

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