Batwara 1947 movie review: Sunny Deol is let down by dated, banal storytelling

Batwara 1947 is a movie that reunites Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol, two stars from the 90s hit films Ghayal, Damini, and Ghatak. The film is based on the Asghar Wajahat play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya Vo Jamya Ei Nai, which offers a humane portrayal of the Partition. Shabana Azmi plays the role of Mai, a Hindu woman who is left behind in her Lahore haveli after her family's home is burned down by rioters.

The central conflict takes place inside the home and outside, with the Mirza family trying to deal with the stubborn old woman, Durgawati, who refuses to leave. Though the message of the film is relevant in today's time, the storytelling is dated and banal. The dialogues are stagey, and the film fails to modernize the subject matter without losing its essence.

While Shabana Azmi delivers a great performance, the rest of the cast, including Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta, deliver satisfactory performances. The film's rating is two stars.