Sunny Deol on the challenge of Batwara 1947 'humanising' Pakistanis in today's political climate: 'Mahaul ka nahi socha'

In Batwara 1947, Sunny Deol plays a Muslim man who protects a Hindu woman in Lahore immediately after the Partition.

Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi and actor Sunny Deol are reuniting after almost two decades in the upcoming period drama, Batwara 1947. Set around the Partition, the film tells the story of a Muhajir family in Lahore who protect an ageing Hindu woman. On Tuesday, Santoshi and the film’s stars - Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta - interacted with the media about the film’s tone, story, and their roles.

Rajkumar Santoshi on the humanity of Batwara 1947

Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta in a still from Batwara 1947.

In today’s climate, it is considered increasingly risky or difficult to show neutrality or parity. Films are avoiding showing humanity across the border. When HT asked Santoshi why he chose this narrative in a polarised political climate, the director said it was never about the messaging. “The story needs to be engaging, entertaining, and leave some emotional things in the mind (of the audience). We don’t like to message. The medium is different for those who are making films for messaging,” says the filmmaker.

Santoshi adds that the crux of the story is human courage and will, not the divide between people. “This is an emotional story. What will stay with you are the characters. The story doesn’t see Hindu or Muslim. The characters see human beings. Ek insaan ke saath ek ghatna hoti hai aur insaan kis tarah se kya karta hai (Something occurs with a human being and how other human beings rally together), that is the story. Toh ek message nahi de raha hoon main. Teacher thode hi hoon (I am not giving a message, I am not a teacher). The film should be good, and people should enjoy it,” he adds.

‘Not trying to neutralise’, says Sunny Deol

For Sunny, what matters about the film is how it makes the audience feel. “When you see the film, you will forget what it is. You will be so involved in the cinema that you will come out happy and satisfied. It will make you realise what the Partition was. And how important it is to stand by yourself against all the odds. But it is not ki hum isko thoda aise rakhein ya isko thoda aise rakhein. Woh jo subject hai wahi hum banayenge. Usko badal toh nahi sakte. (It is not as if we tried to keep it this way or that way. We will make what the subject is. We can’t change that),” he explains.

But a film that portrays Pakistani people as simply people and not villains is rare in Hindi cinema these days. When asked if this element of Batwara 1947 will make it a worthwhile watch in Pakistan, Sunny says, “We never thought of that way. I heard this story from Raj in 2010, and we have been wanting to make it since then. When you talk about the political climate, humne mahaul ke baare mein kabhi nahi socha. Hum toh kahani bana rahe hain. Hamare dimaag me koi khot nahi hai (we never thought about the climate, just told our story. There is no malice in our hearts).”

Preity Zinta, making her comeback to the big screen after seven years, adds, “For me too, it’s not about ki udhar kya ho raha hai, idhar kya ho raha hai? It’s about humare ghar mein kya ho raha hai? And when world events happen, when things happen anywhere, you know, you don’t look at it. When you are going through a situation, your first instinct is my family and me.”

About the film

In Batwara 1947, Sunny Deol plays a Muslim man who migrates to Pakistan during the Partition. However, he discovers a Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, living upstairs in his home, who refuses to leave. He takes it upon himself to protect her while also ensuring his family's safety amid the chaos.

The film also marks the first on-screen collaboration between Sunny and his son, Karan Deol, who plays his son. The cast also includes Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh, Khushi Hajare and Kanikka Kapur.

The film's music has been composed by AR Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. It has also been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) without any cuts. The film is bankrolled by Aamir Khan under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions.