A Year Later…

Produced by Sphere Origin,the movie features Khanna,Seema Biswas,Sadiya Siddique,Jyoti Dogra and Bobby Parvez among others. Inspired by true incidents,all the characters and plots run parallel to each other and each story is a personal tale of tragedy,loss and coming to terms with reality. “It goes beyond the headlines,” says Khanna for whom the film was one emotionally draining experience. “I play a father who loses his son and daughter in law in front of his eyes at the VT Station.”

Instead of a message,the film explores the biggest question – why. “What was the reason,what did they achieve. The only message the film can give is that such acts should be condemned. We should be aware of our surroundings,be cooperative and not indifferent towards those who’ve suffered such ordeals,” for Khanna,the film is a tribute and a reminder. “Life goes on,but people don’t forget such things,and post it,conscious levels get elevated making us more sensitive and less dismissive,” adds the actor who hopes for many more years in acting and will be soon seen in Red Alert,a film on Naxal movement.

For the director,Siddharth,making a film on a national tragedy was a difficult decision. “It involved research,talking to people who went through it,searching for stories,and it had to look real,” Siddharth didn’t want it to have a preachy feel. “This is our way of giving back,and Star Plus helped,” says the director of Balika Vadhu and many other serials on his first feature film. As ironical as it sounds,Siddharth looks at the upside and felt that the elite needed this shake up. “India has been under attack…Maoist,Naxal,Nandigram. But it took an attack on the upper crust to wake up the thinkers of the society. It was unfortunate,but now they know nobody is safe.” All through the film,Siddharth’s theory is that hatred of any sort will take you nowhere. “If you realise the pain,you’ll stay away from it and the mayhem it causes. The film sticks to stories,no blame games,especially the political one. We’ve elected them…hatred and intolerance has become a second nature to us. It’s time we unite and stop dividing each other.” On that note,tune into Star Plus for ‘Unn Hazaroon Ke Naam’ on November 26 at 10pm followed by a repeat telecast on November 29 at 8 pm.