Freedom at Midnight review: A cinematic triumph, an achievement in saying that bold not well-known part of history

Freedom at Midnight review: A cinematic triumph, an achievement in saying that bold not well-known part of history

What: ‘Freedom at Midnight’ - Nikkhil Advani’s small screen/ott adaptation of Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre eponymous book of the same name is a triumph in storytelling and acting.

Freedom at Midnight web series synopsis

It tells the story of India's independence and partition, and the political and religious dynamics of the time. The series begins with the appointment of Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy of British India and explores the emotional and political chaos of the time. Written for screen by Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng Das, Gundeep Kaur, Divya Nidhi Sharma, Revanta Sarabhai, and Ethan Taylor, ‘Freedom at Midnight’ reveals some not very well-known facts which may be a revelation for the whattsup obsessed generation who believe every fake political forward as true.

Freedom at Midnight web series review

Rarely we come across something on screen – big or small that is movingly expressive and technically exquisite laced with layers, shades that penetrates and makes you ponder.

‘Freedom at Midnight’ by Nikkhil Advani is one that rare experience on screen (be it big or small). But, this doesn,t mean that ‘Freedom at Midnight’ is a grand sweep and will be accepted by all, the political ideology of the viewer can play a decisive role and ‘Freedom at Midnight’ may face backlash or trigger debate for certain shades of Mahatma Gandhi (played with an outstanding brilliance by Chirag Vora), Jawaharlal Nehru (very impressively played by Sidhant Gupta) and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (sheer excellence displayed by Rajendra Chawla).

Havin said that, I also feel that ‘Freedom at Midnight’ is essential and relevant (though it’s told by the perspective of is authors - Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre), I believe the not very well-known shades of Gandhi, Nehru and Patel as shown in the series in a way will question that false fake propaganda on India’s partition and formation of Pakistan.

Certainly, from our grandparents to the upcoming teenagers – Nehru, Gandhi, Patel, India’s freedom struggle, partition, Muhammad Ali Jinnah (pure, effortless brilliance by Arif Zakaria) remains topical. It is a triumph for creator/director Nikkhil Advani who can proudly say that after Rocket Boys, Freedom at Midnight will always be referred to as the high point in his career.

‘Freedom at Midnight’ is, as depicted by Nikhil Advani on the screenplay by Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng Das, Gundeep Kaur, Divya Nidhi Sharma, Revanta Sarabhai, and Ethan Taylor is bold, sweeping (depending on your political ideology), brutal, tender, loving and inspiring. The juggling of varied emotions is done very nicely by maintaining a fine balance.

The handling of mob sequences, the Congress meeting room, the juxtapose of reel and real footage twined by black and white tones confirm that there was nothing stagy about the proceedings in the seven episodes series. Throbbing with strength and compassion, the episodes turn out to be very much effective.

The riot scenes without showing much blood but tension and arson causes a numb and instigates the viewer. Those controversial moments in the history involving Nehru, Patel, Gandhi and Jinnah may turn as an eye opener to those who are not aware or have not read the book.

Yes, its history and the irony of history is that it can change from person to person and or region from region. Mahatma Gandhi lovingly called as Bapu – his ‘ahimsa’ (non-violence) satyagraha shaped our nation, the humanistic ideology that attracted cores of Indians all over and gave Congress its biggest ‘mass’ leader till date, sadly faced criticism and saw its downfall day after day as the date of Indian independence came near.

The supporting cast has provided excellent support - Ira Dubey as Fatima Jinnah, Malishka Mendonsa as Sarojini Naidu, Rajesh Kumar as Liaquat Ali Khan, KC Shankar as V.P. Menon, Luke McGibney as Lord Louis Mountbatten, Cordelia Bugeja as Lady Edwina Mountbatten, Alistair Finlay as Archibald Wavell, Andrew Cullum as Clement Attlee and Richard Teverson as Cyril Radcliffe.