Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Batwara 1947 Is a Human Drama, Not Propaganda, Says Santoshi
A new movie called Batwara 1947 is coming to theatres on August 14.
It is a story about Partition, a big event in 1947 when the country was divided and many people had to move.
The movie stars Sunny Deol as a character named Tara Singh, who fights to bring back his wife.
There is also a very brave character named Sikandar Mirza who risks his whole family to protect a Hindu lady in Pakistan.
The director, Rajkumar Santoshi, says the movie is about being kind to one another and that people matter more than religion.
He says the movie does not take sides and is not trying to push a political message.
It is based on a play called Batwara, written by Asghar Wajahat.
The movie is also inspired by an old film from 1969 called Satyakam.
Famous people helped make it, including Aamir Khan as a producer and AR Rahman for the music.
The director says the film will be exciting and fun but will also make people think.
Batwara 1947, starring Sunny Deol, arrives in theatres on August 14.
Director Rajkumar Santoshi calls the film a human drama that takes no sides, insisting humanity is above all religions.
It marks Santoshi and Deol's reunion after nearly three decades, following Ghayal, Damini and Ghatak.
Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit produce under Aamir Khan Productions, with AR Rahman's music and Javed Akhtar's lyrics.
Asghar Wajahat adapted 30% of his play Batwara for the screen, and the film is a tribute to Dharmendra's 1969 classic Satyakam.
- Who
- Director Rajkumar Santoshi, actor Sunny Deol, producers Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit, and playwright-screenwriter Asghar Wajahat.
- What
- 'Batwara 1947', a Partition-set Hindi film starring Sunny Deol, which Santoshi describes as a human drama that places humanity above religion, is set to hit theatres.
- When
- August 14 (theatrical release), ahead of which Santoshi spoke exclusively to NDTV.
- Where
- Theatres; the film's story unfolds against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition, including events involving a Hindu lady in Pakistan.
- Why
- To tell a non-propaganda human story about Partition that is engaging, thought-provoking, and relevant for today's generation, inspired by the 1969 film Satyakam.
- Film
- Batwara 1947
- Director
- Rajkumar Santoshi
- Lead Actor
- Sunny Deol
- Release Date
- August 14
- Producers
- Aamir Khan, Aparna Purohit
- Production Banner
- Aamir Khan Productions
- Music & Lyrics
- Music by AR Rahman, lyrics by Javed Akhtar
- Source Material
- Adapted from 30% of Asghar Wajahat's play 'Batwara'; tribute to 'Satyakam' (1969)