MUMBAI: Amu, a film based on the ’84 Sikh riots, is being released on DVD by Excel Home Videos. Directed by Shonali Bose and produced by Bedabrata Pain, the movie will be unveiled on DVD by Aamir Khan in Mumbai on 9 August.

The film stars Konkona Sensharma, Brinda Karat, Yashpal Sharma and Ankur Khanna in lead roles.

Amu premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival in 2005. Since then, it has won numerous awards and accolades.

The DVD of Amu has great significance since the film will never be released on television as there is a law that prohibits films with an “A” certificate to be shown on television. With an aim to air the film on TV, the makers reapplied for a new censor certificate but were asked to cut 10 minutes from the film – including any verbal reference to the riots.

Say Bose and Pain, “With such changes, the film is meaningless. As a result we will not be showing the film on Indian television, thus losing a significant audience which we hope to make up with the DVD.”

Amu is the story of Kaju (Konkona Sensharma), a 21-year-old Indian American woman who returns to India to visit her family. She is blocked at every turn when she begins asking simple questions about her past. Aided by Kabir, a young man who is deeply attracted to her and her quest, she embarks on an unstoppable journey to seek the truth. She soon learns that the genocide against the Sikhs in the capital city over 20 years ago, might hold the key to her mysterious origins. The Hollywood Reporter describes Amu as a first rate detective story.

Amu also marks the acting debut of communist leader and activist Brinda Karat, who is playing a key role in the film.

The DVD, has a host of bonus material. Says Excel Home Videos MD MN Kapasi, "We have made the DVD true to the essence of the film with deleted scenes, director’s commentary – recounting the numerous obstacles encountered during the making of the film. The DVD also has stalwarts and actors from the industry including Aamir Khan, Shyam Benegal, Mira Nair, Naseeruddin Shah, Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini, Ketan Mehta, Gulzar, Aparna Sen, Vishal Bharadwaj, Vivek Oberoi, Shaad Ali and others publicly endorsing the film.”