Batwara 1947, produced by Aamir Khan Films and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. It is written jointly by Asghar Wajahat and Rajkumar Santoshi. The film was released one day before Independence, on August 14. It is a very moving classic that talks about the perils of Partition and explores a deeply emotional chapter of Indian history to the big screen through a story of families, loss, resilience and humanity.
Set in the city of Lahore in Punjab region, Batwara 1947 is a historical tale of the division of Punjab, displacement and human connection and depicts the emotional cost of the partition of India.
A role reversal and release timing raise questions in Batwara 1947
Overall, though the intention was to send a message of peace, love and harmony the biggest disappointment is that Sunny Deol has been cast as a Pakistani Muslim, contrary to his image of a brave Indian soldier fighting against Pakistan – created in his previous patriotic films till date. Secondly, the release of a period film with such a story has been mistimed particularly during these current times of post Operation Sindoor era.
It is based on playwright Asghar Wajahat’s acclaimed drama Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai. Sunny Deol plays Sikandar Mirza, a staunch Muslim who initially dislikes the Indian old lady Durga. But the haveli actually belongs to her family. Sunny arrives with his wife Hamida (played by Preity Zinta) and his son Javed (played by his real son Karan Deol). They find Shabana Azmi refusing to move out. At first, Sunny threatens her, but she retorts, “I am an old woman, and you threaten me? Shame on you.” Slowly, his attitude changes, and he begins to see her as the mother he lost in childhood.
Earlier, you may have seen two or three films about the trauma of Partition. Batwara 1947 is a touching, disturbing film starring Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi, Preity Zinta, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal and Abhimanyu Singh, all of whom have delivered excellent performances. As I said, it is about the perils of Partition. In Gadar, we saw what happens to an Indian after Partition in India. Here, Sunny Deol plays the other side of Partition—what happens in Pakistan. He plays Sikandar Mirza, a Muslim character who goes to Pakistan with great difficulty and finds a place to stay. The so-called “room” is actually a huge haveli with 11 rooms on the ground floor and 11 rooms on the first floor.
In one of these rooms lives Mai (Shabana Azmi), an elderly Hindu woman left behind by her son and daughter-in-law. Slowly, the story reveals that her son and his wife were killed by Muslims, leaving her alone and suffering. Shabana Azmi plays a Hindu woman named Durga, who had been living in the haveli before Partition. After Partition, she remains in Pakistan, waiting for her lost son. It is a poignant, emotional story. Sunny Deol, as Sikandar Mirza, comes from India to occupy the haveli allotted to him. Initially, he wants Durga to leave, questioning why a Hindu woman is living in a haveli allotted to him. But gradually, seeing her behavior, his attitude changes, and he begins to treat her like his own mother.
Conflict, loss, and a final lesson in humanity
Abhimanyu Singh plays the villain, a politician in Pakistan who wants to evict Shabana Azmi and house others in the haveli. He tries to manipulate Sunny, but Sunny refuses, insisting the haveli has been officially allotted to him. Meanwhile, Sunny’s son Javed quarrels with him and leaves home, only to be brainwashed by Abhimanyu Singh. Durga’s health deteriorates, and she dies. The question arises: should her body be buried or cremated? Some suggest sending it to India for cremation. But Sunny convinces everyone that Islam is not against cremation and teaches that religion should not be cruel to others. A large procession carries Shabana Azmi’s body, symbolizing unity.
With a run time of 2 hours and 40 minutes, with hardly any comedy—it is a grim and serious drama, as Rajkumar Santoshi often tackles complex subjects. Credit goes to him for his depth of direction. The film also explores the conflict between father and son, with Javed leaving his father’s house to stay with the antagonist. The texture of the film is extremely good, and Rajkumar Santoshi deserves congratulations for daring to make Batwara 1947, a film that is not an entertainer but a serious subject.
In one scene, Sunny’s daughter asks her mother, “When two communities live together, can’t they stay in unity?” Preity Zinta replies, “That’s how we lived before India and Pakistan were divided. Only after Partition did people develop such different thoughts.” The film teaches lessons of unity, love, and peace.
Analysing it on stand alone basis, it is a Gem of a film from Rajkumar Santoshi with powerful performances by Sunny Deol and Shabana Azmi. However, this particular subject has been wrongly timed. The present sentiments of masses on the both sides are extremely unfavourable for this film.
– Review by Jyothi Venkatesh
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Cast of Batwara 1947:
Sunny Deol as Sikander Mirza
Preity Zinta as Hamida Mirza (Sikander’s wife)
Shabana Azmi as Durgavati / Mai
Karan Deol as Javed Mirza (Sikander and Hamida’s son)
Ali Fazal as Habib Anwar
Abhimanyu Singh as Yaqoob Khan
Khushi Hajare as Tanno (Sikander and Hamida’s daughter)
Kanikka Kapur as Nishat Khan
Isha Sandhir as Tabassum
Pankaj Raina as Zafar
Vishnu Sharma as Maulvi
Khalid Siddiqui as Ratan Lal (Durgavati’s son)
Waseem Rajput as Baba G
Rukhsar Rehman as Savitri (Ratan’s wife)
Parminder Singh Kainth as Muhammad Shah
Shivika Rishi as Shanti (Ratan and Savitri’s daughter)
Credits of Batwara 1947:
Production company – Aamir Khan Productions
Produced by Aamir Khan, Aparna Purohit
Screenplay and Direction by Rajkumar Santoshi
Dialogues by Rajkumar Santoshi, Asghar Wajahat
Based on – Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai by Asghar Wajahat
Cinematography – Santosh Sivan
Edited by Shyam Salgaonkar
Music by A. R. Rahman
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