The controversial film on 1984 Sikh riots, 31st October starring Soha Ali Khan and Vir Das, has hit yet another roadblock since its long tussle with the censor board over the number of cuts to the film. A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Delhi High Court against the film, which was to be released on 7 October, claiming that the film features a lookalike of an unspecified political figure who has been “painted in a bad light”.
31st October is about what happens to a Sikh family in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards on 31 October, 1984.
The petitioner, Ajay Katara, alleges that certain scenes in the film are “aimed and targeted against a political figure of the country”, and that the film has abused the right to expression.
The petitioner alleges that two characters in the film resemble Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler, who were accused of instigating the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi in 1984 and are still facing court cases.
According to a TOI report, soon after reports of the PIL appeared online, the film’s team released a statement announcing the film’s new release date.
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After struggling with the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for over four months, writer-producer Harry Sachdeva was all set to release his poignant thriller on 7 October 7, 2016. A Delhi-based close aide of the Congress party has also filed a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) against 31st October, demanding a ban on the release of the film. “Amidst all the chaos and protest, Harry Sachdeva can now breathe a sigh of relief, as the movie will now be released on 21st October, 2016. Fortunately, the movie has also managed to get a solo release status for itself” the TOI quoted the statement.