2 weeks ago
Batwara 1947 review: Dull storytelling, sharp anti-bigotry messaging
Long ago in 1947, the country of India was split into two countries, India and Pakistan.
This was called Partition, and it was a very sad and scary time.
Many people had to leave their homes because of their religion.
In the movie Batwara 1947, a man named Sikandar and his family move to a new house in Lahore.
But an old woman named Durgavati is already living there, and she will not leave until her missing son comes back.
At first Sikandar is upset, but he learns to care for her.
A bad politician named Yaqub wants to get rid of the old woman and her religion.
Sikandar decides to protect her instead.
The movie teaches that kindness is more important than hatred.
Some people who watched the movie say the story is slow and boring, but they also say its message about being kind to everyone is very important.
Batwara 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, is adapted from Asghar Wajahat's play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai.
Sunny Deol plays Sikandar, a Muslim businessman from Meerut who flees to Lahore during Partition after being targeted by Hindu rioters.
Shabana Azmi plays Durgavati, an elderly Hindu woman who refuses to leave the mansion allotted to Sikandar until her missing son returns.
The 145-minute Hindi-Punjabi film is praised for its clear-eyed denunciation of religious bigotry but criticized for dull, plodding storytelling and drab visuals.
Preity Zinta, Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh, Karan Deol and Khushi Hajare are among the supporting cast.
- Who
- Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta and Shabana Azmi star in the film, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.
- What
- Batwara 1947 is a Partition drama about a Muslim businessman who shelters an elderly Hindu woman, reviewed as dull in storytelling but sharp in its anti-bigotry messaging.
- Where
- The story is set in Lahore; the film is Hindi-Punjabi.
- When
- The film is from 2026; it is set during the 1947 Partition.
- Why
- The film aims to show compassion trumping communal hatred and to denounce religious bigotry.
Craft critics
Message defenders
Storytelling quality
Craft critics
The storytelling is stodgy and plodding, with drab, television serial-level visuals.
Message defenders
The film's cogent, clear-eyed denunciation of religious bigotry makes it relevant and worthwhile.
Character depth
Craft critics
Sikandar is a one-note character and Abhimanyu Singh is persistently hammy.
Message defenders
Female characters stand up to the zealots, and Shabana Azmi's Durgavati radiates care and understanding.
Key facts
- Director
- Rajkumar Santoshi
- Based on
- Asghar Wajahat's play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai
- Lead cast
- Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi
- Runtime
- 145 minutes
- Language
- Hindi-Punjabi
- Cinematographer
- Santosh Sivan
- Production company
- Aamir Khan Productions
- Setting
- Lahore during the 1947 Partition









