Ahead of I-Day, 12 films and web series that show the horrors of Partition

Updated On: 13 August, 2024 07:55 PM IST | Oshin Fernandes

In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that August 14 will be observed as `Partition Horrors Remembrance Day` to remind the nation of the sufferings and sacrifices of Indians during the Partition in 1947. Ahead of Independence Day, here are movies and web series that depict a glimpse of the same

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In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that August 14 will be observed as `Partition Horrors Remembrance Day` to remind the nation of the sufferings and sacrifices of Indians during the Partition in 1947. Ahead of Independence Day, here are movies and web series that depict a glimpse of the same

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National Award-winning film `Pinjar` was based on a social novel of the same name by Amrita Pritam. The movie released in 2003 is widely considered one of the outstanding works of Indian fiction set during the period of the Partition of India. It starred Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpayee, and Sanjay Suri in the lead roles.

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The film `Bharat` starring Salman Khan is spread over 46 years from 1964 to 2010. To create the Partition sequence a whole section of the refugee camp was created in Tughlakabad Fort. Jackie Shroff, who plays Salman`s father said, "Partition is not good. When I played a trainmaster in `Bharat`, I came to know what must have happened. I have heard and read about it but I felt it when I did `Bharat`.

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‘Begum Jaan’ talks about the fight of a group of prostitutes who defy the government trying to destroy their homes so that they can divide the countries. The film is an adaptation of Srijit Mukherji`s Bengali movie `Rajkahini`. The flick stars Vidya Balan, Ila Arun, Gauahar Khan, Pallavi Sharda, Rajit Kapoor, Chunkey Panday, Naseerruddin Shah, and Ashish Vidyarthi.

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‘Kalank’ is a period drama set in pre-independent India that takes the audience on a journey of six characters who are connected by love, emotions, revenge, and turbulent relationships. The film stars Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditya Roy Kapur, Madhuri Dixit, and Sanjay Dutt in the lead roles. In the film`s climax, Varun, a Muslim, sacrifices his life for Alia, who he is in love with but is married to Aditya. With the Partition chaos in the backdrop, Alia and Aditya board the train to safety. 

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In ‘Gold’ Akshay Kumar plays the role of Tapan Das, a character which is based on the man who led India to win gold in hockey at the 1948 London Olympics. A scene shows one of the players, a Muslim getting injured during the Partition riots after Hindus and Sikhs try to burn him alive. 

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‘Gadar’, helmed by Anil Sharma, was released in theatres in 2001. Sunny Deol played the role of Tara, a truck driver, while Ameesha Patel played Sakina in the film that was set during the Partition of India in 1947.

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The 1998 film ‘Train to Pakistan’ was adapted from Khushwant Singh`s 1956 classic novel by the same name set in the Partition of India and directed by Pamela Rooks. It featured Nirmal Pandey, Rajit Kapur, Mohan Agashe, Smriti Mishra, Mangal Dhillon, and Divya Dutta.

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In the web series Ms Marvel, Pakistani actor Fawad Khan plays Iman Vellani’s great-grandfather in the flashback alongside Mehwish Hayat. One of the episodes shows how Iman inherits Mehwish’s magical bangle. Fawad plays the role of a freedom fighter from the pre-independent era. 

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`Sultan Of Delhi` is a web series that follows the story of Arjun Bhatia (Tahir Raj Bhasin), who works with Delhi`s biggest illegal arms dealer, Jagan Seth (Vinay Pathak). In a high-stakes battle for power, Arjun is tested time and again by those around him. Fuelled by ambition, and his calling to become the Sultan Of Delhi, Arjun must navigate a treacherous landscape to emerge victorious, where there is no stopping him and vengeance is unleashed.

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Based on Vikram Chandra`s 2006 novel by the same name, `Sacred Games` season 2 featured Saif Ali Khan on a mission to uncover a terror attack in Mumbai in 25 days and to solve the mystery. It turns out, Ranvir Shorey, who was the mastermind behind it, is his cousin. A flashback shows how his and Saif’s mothers were separated during the Partition, with one in Pakistan and the other in India. 

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Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ based on Milkha Singh, one of India`s most renowned athletes, depicts his inspiring journey, starting from his traumatic childhood during the Partition where he lost most of his family members, to becoming a national hero. 

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The upcoming film `Lahore 1947` starring Sunny Deol, Preity G Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Abhimanyu Singh, and Ali Fazal includes a breathtaking train sequence, which is touted to be the one of the most ambitious and elaborate scenes ever attempted in a film about the Partition era. It was produced by Aamir Khan and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. 

Photo of Day

Bliss by the beach

A photographer holds up the lights during a photo session by the Madh Island seashore. PIC/NIMESH DAVE

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Ahead of I-Day, 12 films and web series that show the horrors of Partition

&lsquo;Gadar&rsquo;, helmed by Anil Sharma, was released in theatres in 2001. Sunny Deol played the role of Tara, a truck driver, while Ameesha Patel played Sakina in the film that was set during the Partition of India in 1947.

The 1998 film &lsquo;Train to Pakistan&rsquo; was adapted from Khushwant Singh`s 1956 classic novel by the same name set in the Partition of India and directed by Pamela Rooks. It featured Nirmal Pandey, Rajit Kapur, Mohan Agashe, Smriti Mishra, Mangal Dhillon, and Divya Dutta.

In the web series Ms Marvel, Pakistani actor Fawad Khan plays Iman Vellani&rsquo;s great-grandfather in the flashback alongside Mehwish Hayat. One of the episodes shows how Iman inherits Mehwish&rsquo;s magical bangle. Fawad plays the role of a freedom fighter from the pre-independent era.&nbsp;

Farhan Akhtar&rsquo;s &lsquo;Bhaag Milkha Bhaag&rsquo; based on Milkha Singh, one of India`s most renowned athletes, depicts his inspiring journey, starting from his traumatic childhood during the Partition where he lost most of his family members, to becoming a national hero.&nbsp;

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