31st October Hindi Movie Review: The movie, “31st October” is a suspense filled drama that follows the story of a Sikh family. They can’t escape the riots in India. They are in the most violent area of Delhi when the anti-Sikh riots happened on October 31st, 1984. This is a story of survival in turbulent times.
This film is based on a true story and happenings in India. The “31st October” shows in great detail the extermination and basically the genocide of the Sikh population during that time. It is a sad and real reminder of this violent time in India’s history.
On October 31st, 1984, the Prime Minister of India (Indira Gandhi) gets assassinated by her own Security Guards who are Sikh. The outbreaks of the riots started in Delhi after Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Indira Gandhi has been the only female Prime Minister in the history of India. Indira Gandhi was the child of India’s original PM, Jawaharlal Nehru. She served from 1966 to 1977. Then had another term from 1981-1984 at the time of her assignation. She was served as Prime Minister almost as long as her father had.
The other government rulers make this act of assignation as an example to the people of Delhi. Which, then leads to horrible outrage and scorning of the Sikh population. Showing all of them to be as conscious traitors and conspirators against their own country.
This family is deserted and are trapped in their house with no hope in sight of rescue. Even their family, neighbors and everyone is being killed around them and their community is in shambles.
They have Hindi friends who are coming to help to rescue Devender’s family but they run into reality and the chaos and overwhelming lack of humanity that riots bring with them.
Their friends (Pal , Tilak and Yogesh) find they have their own journey of the mortality of facing humankind in difficult situations they must strive to overcome these things before they can save their friends. They encounter the often brutal and bloody violence, the ethical exploitation of the people they meet along the way.
The soundtracks showcases very powerful songs about the incident and the country of India itself. The songs flow from the sadness, violence, eeriness, and uncertainty of those times and of the October 31st riots.
The writer and producer had said that, he had to share this story. Since, it is a part of the history of India. Many people, wanted to keep the incident tucked away in the shadows of the past. Harry Sachdeva, went through a terrible time in getting this film made. This story is so important to the Sikh people, and Delhi. The producer shared that he even received threats on his life if he continued to make this movie. But thankfully, he continued on his journey to bring this powerful movie to audiences.
Film Run Time: 1 hour and 49 minutes
Film Genre: Bollywood, Drama, History, Thriller
Release Date: October 21st, 2016 in India
Starring: Soha Ali Khan, Lakhwinder Lakha, Nagesh Bhonsle
Director/Producer: Shivaji Lotan Patil, Magical Dreams Productions
Written by: Harry Sachdeva
For more information on this film please visit: www.31oct1984.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yuGao8d4nU