A scene from ‘Freedom at Midnight’

Once a promoter of Bollywood entertainment, director Nikhil Advani has recently been exploring drama around real, episodic events – life-changing situations – where decisions are taken not on the basis of right and wrong, but in the name of consequences Are. A slippery ground to navigate, he got it right Mumbai Diaries Set against 26/11 terrorist attacks in the metropolis and does not disappoint freedom at midnight One of the two.

A fairly faithful adaptation of the non-fiction book by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins, Advani’s ambitious work offers a layered account of the traumatic events surrounding India’s independence whose impact is diminished by a selective eye and some generic casting choices.

Addressed to history lovers rather than historians, the canvas is expansive and events include personalities whose decisions – and their consequences – are still debated. The series manages to place the nuances of competing interests and moral dilemmas in the transfer of power in the context of human lives and clears up some of the dust settled on painful historical events. It was not just about Hindus and Muslims; The future of the Sikhs was also at stake. It was not just about religious division; Bengal was facing division of cultures. What could not be handed over to the Muslim League during the time of Lord Wavell, had to be accepted by the Congress during the time of Mountbatten due to changed electoral arithmetic and imposed religious rhetoric.

Since it is not a biographical account of the life of any one leader, the authors are allowed to humanize various political personalities, including Mahatma Gandhi, and examine them without disrespect. Controversial issues such as Gandhi’s choice of Nehru over Patel and his insistence on giving Jinnah the post of Prime Minister are deftly addressed. A seemingly insignificant line in the flashback sequence where Gandhi addresses Nehru as the son of Motilal (Nehru) provides a sense of their relationship. Similarly, the sequence establishing the broken relationship between Jinnah and Gandhi puts the past and their final political journeys into perspective.

These events are informed by the shrewdness of Gandhi, the pragmatism of Patel, the idealism of Nehru, the selfishness of Jinnah and the laxity and deceit of the British. Supported by the screenplay-like writing of Lapierre and Collins, the series allows the layers to be unraveled in a paced, engaging fashion.

The long form and somewhat neutral look of the authors of the source material allows Advani to depict the intricacies of human drama and personality clashes. The scene where Gandhi talks to Mountbatten about his stolen watch gives goosebumps as the old man has not only lost an instrument but his article of faith has also been stolen. The last Viceroy’s choice of attire and his unfailing love of spectacle provide an insight into the last days of colonial rule, when, ironically, the Labor Party government was in power in England.

Creative liberties have been taken to create a scene where Gandhi crosses a river after a bridge between Muslim and Hindu neighborhoods is destroyed by a Muslim mob following communal clashes in Noakhali. This scene not only shows the broken relations between the two communities but also shows the moral strength of the Mahatma at a time when hatred was the dominant emotion. However, the role of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Hindu Mahasabha in stoking Muslim separatist sentiment is fleshed out by the end of the first season. For a large part, the cinematic gaze gives the impression that Muslims were on the streets in large numbers demanding a separate state, forcing the Congress to capitulate.

Arif Zakaria as Mohammad Ali Jinnah in ‘Freedom at Midnight’

The dialogues are inspiring without being bombastic. Jinnah’s statement that either India will be divided or destroyed, continues even today. Vallabhbhai’s profound observation also says that “India is changing, and so are its people.” One may have objections to the bent of the arguments but they cannot be rejected.

The limitations of the source material are reflected in the storytelling as well. There is little or no room for the common man in whose name all the political tricks are being played. The writing feels journalistic and somewhat tilted towards a British perspective of events. Lapierre and Collins tried to find some wisdom in Lord Mountbatten’s haste to leave the field for the Civil War, but the series attempted to show how ‘divide and rule’ was cleverly employed as part of Operation Seduction Was done. , Supported by a superb production design, the conversations and calculations behind the high walls of the Viceroy’s House make for some entertaining moments, including an informal conversation between Nehru and Edwina (Mountbatten) captured in a series of long shots.

The impressive performances of English actors Luke McGibney and Cordelia Bugeja as Louis and Edwina Mountbatten ensure that the British characters do not feel out of place in their tone, expressions and worldview. However, the casting of Indian leaders is a bit uneven. One has to abandon the images of Ben Kingsley, Rajit Kapoor and Roshan Seth to accept Chirag Vohra and Siddhant Gupta as Gandhi and Nehru respectively. It takes time to get used to prosthetics and their use. Chirag is fantastic in some scenes where he seems to have internalized the spirit of Gandhi, but there are also moments where he overdoes the acting and threatens to become a caricature.

A good actor, Siddhant is too young to play Nehru. He is a work in progress because he could not fully express the seriousness of a man associated with secular and socialist ideas. Compared to the image of Iron Man, Rajendra Chawla’s Patel seems a little more talkative. However, as the series progresses, the veteran actor gradually evolves into character, and leaves a solid impression as a selfless individual. So does Arif Zakaria in his deeply contradictory character as Jinnah, a pipe-smoking barrister who calls himself the sole spokesperson of the Muslims.

Watch the series to go one step further than WhatsApp University and whet your appetite for history books.

Freedom at Midnight is currently streaming on SonyLIV