Sharmila-Soha starrer “Life…” set for North American release

WASHINGTON - British Indian director Sangeeta Dutta’s new film “Life Goes On” exploring the relations between a grief stricken father and his three daughters is being released in North America Friday, even before its release in India.

Set in London, the film about an Indian-origin family features veteran Indian actor Sharmila Tagore and her daughter Soha Ali Khan together for the first time. It’s being released by Databazaar Media Ventures, an exclusive gateway for Bengali films to North America.

The movie won the Best Feature Film award at the Pravasi International Festival, Delhi and the Best Feature Film, Audience Appreciation Award at the London Asian Film Festival.

“I had been wanting to share filmography with my mother and there had been several offers but none convinced us. Sangeeta’s script was very convincing and it seemed almost organic for me to play daughter to my mother in the film,” Soha said.

“‘Life Goes On’ is an original film, it is non-formulaic, and I am so happy that it is getting released now and Databazaar Media Ventures is taking it to the large market in North America even before its release in India.

“It was my first British film and in many ways I am the British-Asian girl Dia. I have been educated in Oxford and the LSE (London School of Economics) and I have also worked in London,” said Soha.

“Working with my mother, who is a living legend, was daunting to say the least! For many reasons the film is very personal to me and the work I will always want to own and view whenever I want to,” Soha, 32, said.

The cast of the film also includes Girish Karnad and Om Puri.

“This is my first British film and I very much liked the process of working with a British crew, with Om Puri and my daughter Soha for the first time,” Sharmila Tagore said.

Oney Seal, chairman of the Databazaar group of companies, said: “‘Life Goes On’ is our first English language film which is slated for mainstream release all over North America. The Indian diaspora living here will be able to immediately identify with this film.”

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)