World war veterans joined stars of the movie The Dance Of Shiva last night to mark Armistice Day by attending its world premiere.
The British film examines the overlooked sacrifices made by Indian soldiers who fought alongside British troops in both world wars.
Stars Paul McGann, Sanjeev Bhaskar - who appears in BBC 2's Goodness Gracious Me - and former tennis star Pat Cash, making his big screen debut, were among those who attended the screening in London. The low-budget half-hour film also features Kenneth Branagh, although he was unable to attend last night's event at the Shaftesbury Avenue ABC cinema.
Producer/director Jamie Payne said it was important for the film to highlight the role of colonial troops in the British war effort.
"If I had to put a percentage on it I would say 99.9 per cent of people didn't know the part they played, and that's scary in a Britain that is supposed to be brilliantly multi-cultural", he said.
"When people in the British National Party stand on the shores and say `we don't want you here', they don't realise what a great part these people had in protecting their country. These things should be taught to children in our schools."
He said there was some prospect that the film could be shown as part of the national curriculum to educate young people about this thread of history.
Mr Payne said it had been quite a battle to get the film made, but added: "When you are pushing your head against a wall for long enough, something has got to give".
Four former Indian solders, Rajinda Dhatt, Harvans Singh, Karam Singh and Harvans Singh Jahunie, were at the screening.
Three of them, all members of the Indian Ex-services Association, had been prisoners of war.