A Bollywood movie on India’s former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination and the anti-Sikh violence that followed will not be released in time.
Soha Ali Khan and Vir Das starrer ‘31st October’ is about a Sikh family trapped in violence affected Delhi after the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.
The movie has had its Friday released halted after a public interest litigation was filed against it in the Delhi High Court, even as the court refused to entertain the petition, news agency ANI reported.
Soha Ali Khan in 31st October Source: 31st October
It has been alleged in the petition filed in the court that the movie attacks the secular ideology of India and portrays a particular political party in a bad light.
"From whatever little is shown on trailers, it is clear that action and words used by the characters are of offending nature, they have all ingredients to tarnish the reputation of such persons. Apart from the fact that same can't stand the test of fair comment or that of social interest, they appear to be provocative," the petition reads.
The petitioner said he would approach the court again with an amended petition.
A grab from the movie trailor. Source: 31st October
The film was originally set to release on October 7. However, the petition filed on October 4 has now forced the producers to shift its release date.
“A Delhi-based aide of the Congress party has filed a PIL demanding a ban on the release of the film. Amidst all the chaos and protest, Harry Sachdeva (writer-producer) can now breathe a sigh of relief, the movie will now be released on 21st October, 2016,” a publicist of the movie said in a statement.
The movie has reportedly had to struggle for months against India’s Censor Board of Film Certification for months.
A grab from the movie trailor. Source: 31st October
This is not the first time that a movie based on Indira Gandhi’s assassination has been banned or dragged to the court.
In 2014, a Punjabi movie titled 'Kaum De Heere', highlighting the lives of the two guards, who assassinated Gandhi was set to be released on August 22, 2014, but was banned by the Indian Government.
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