Aug 12, 2024
By: Prerna Tyagi
Credit: IMDb
From the Partition of 1947 to contemporary issues, filmmakers have used the big screen to explore and critique the evolving dynamics of Indian society. As we move closer to our 77th Independence Day, let’s take a look at films that have captured the shifts in India’s political and social landscape:
Credit: TOI
1947: Earth is the second part of Deepa Mehta’s elemental trilogy and captures the human toll of the political divide that reshaped the subcontinent. Through the eyes of a young Parsi girl, the film shows how friends get divided when the tragedy ensues in Lahore.
Credit: TOI
Garm Hawa is a 1976 classic that vividly captures the trauma and uncertainty faced by a North Indian Muslim family after Partition. Based on an unpublished short story by Ismat Chughtai, it explores identity, displacement, and the emotional cost of political decisions.
Credit: TOI
Directed by Chetan Anand, Haqeeqat is a war film set against the backdrop of the Sino-Indian War of 1962. It is regarded as one of the earliest and most realistic depictions of war in Indian cinema. Starring Dharmendra, the film captures the grim realities of conflict through a small platoon of soldiers.
Credit: TOI
Sudhir Mishra’s Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi is set against the backdrop of the Emergency period of the 1970s, a time when civil liberties were severely restricted in India. The film follows three young individuals whose lives are dramatically altered by the political unrest, whilst exploring the personal cost of activism.
Credit: IMDb
Parzania, directed by Rahul Dholakia, is a heart-wrenching account of the 2002 Gujarat riots, seen through the eyes of a Parsi family in Ahmedabad. The film is based on the true story of a young boy who went missing during the violence.
Credit: TOI
Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set against the backdrop of the insurgency in Kashmir. It offers a stark commentary on the impact of conflict on individuals and families caught amid political unrest.
Credit: TOI
Directed by Govind Nihalani, and starring Jaya Bachchan, Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa is a film about a mother’s journey to understand her son’s involvement in the Naxalite movement. Set in the 1970s, the film explores the radical political movements of the time and the generational conflicts that arise from differing political beliefs.
Credit: IMDb
Bombay, directed by Mani Ratnam, is a landmark film that tackles the sensitive subject of the 1992 Bombay riots following the Babri Masjid demolition. The film tells the story of an interfaith couple caught in the communal violence.
Credit: IMDb
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro is a dark satire that brilliantly captures the corruption permeating Indian politics, bureaucracy, news media, and business. Directed by Kundan Shah, this cult classic features an ensemble cast of Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Baswani, and Om Puri. The film has garnered a cult following through the years and remains relevant to date.
Credit: IMDb