Freedom at Midnight review: A diplomatic show that tries to put the humans in history

Nikkhil Advani's Freedom at Midnight is a rare, fictional retelling of a historical chapter that isn't interested in taking sides, just delivering a gripping tale that will leave you with goosebumps! 

Remember how Peter Morgan's The Crown released a few years back, took the world by storm and made everyone obsessed with its flair of wrapping a real-life historical chapter into a dramatic irresistible drama? Nikkhil Advani's Freedom At Midnight is precisely that—our version of The Crown! It depicts the fraught period leading up to India’s independence—a story we’ve heard countless times but perhaps never quite like this. Showcasing the political turbulence of the era in a gripping, nuanced way without forcing a single perspective, it offers us a chance to engage with the history and form our interpretations of it!

Based on the 1975 eponymous book by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, the seven-episode bureaucratic backroom drama takes us inside those rooms where political decisions were made to decide the fate of our country. Whether it was the decision of naming Panditji as the Congress party leader, inevitably making him the first Prime Minister of independent India or the fight to not let the united India divide in the name of religion or region only to finally back down and cave in to draw the line of the partition.

The series unfolds with a deep understanding that winning the fight to free India from British rule was only the beginning. The true challenge lay in the struggle to shape a new identity for the nation. Hence, the show has the heroic freedom fighters portrayed as angsty humans grappling with the immense burden of building an independent country. Focusing on a pivotal chapter of history when the anticipation for freedom felt endless, and hope was overshadowed by the painful reality of partition, the show offers a sense of familiarity with this well-known history while revealing just how much more there is to uncover.

This is where the genius of Nikkhil Advani lies! A filmmaker who is slowly making his name by recrafting real-life incidents in a fictional set-up that is as intriguing as riveting, with shows like Mumbai Diaries, Rocket Boys, and now this under his belt, he's creating new ways of crafting historical dramas in India, ones that are away from propaganda. Given how this particular point in Indian history is filled with more ideological wars than violent ones, it is far easier to fall into the trap of taking a side. Despite some of its faults, and a little bit of bias, the show is rooted in neutrality for most parts, as if it is working on setting the record straight without whitewashing the shortfalls of historical figures. Athough six writers have written the series that's dominated by verbosity, the series finds itself coherent in narrating a story with a dramatic flair that always puts you at the edge. 

The show doesn’t just explore the political landscape, rather it adopts the political tone as a metaphorical language that permeates its storytelling starting from its eclectic title sequence. For instance, everyday visuals take on deeper meanings: a half-dunked biscuit in tea symbolizes the country’s division, a tipped-over picture frame hints at looming conflict, losing a watch and getting lost in the vast Viceroy’s palace becomes a metaphor for losing support or one’s way amidst political chaos. The narrative thrives in these small, symbolic details, while still not forgetting to embracing its dramatic roots where the story heavily-dependent on beauractic endeavours with changing minds, sullen moods and shifting allegiances transforms into an engaging spectacle with its larger-than-life stageness. Even the dialogue, though often weighty, is infused with sharp political wit, giving rise to lines that could easily become pop culture references!

Nikkhil Advani’s mastery of world-building draws you in so completely that you almost forget you’re watching fiction. But here his vision reaches new heights, brought to life by the team’s technical brilliance making a case of when style and substance blend seamlessly, it creates something truly magical on screen! The editing finds such a perfect rhythm with the camera that, as the focus shifts—whether drawing us closer or during mid-conversation—the screen seamlessly splits or returns to its standard ratio. Throughout the entire runtime, this synchronized “breathing” between the visuals and editing makes the show’s flow incredibly smooth, conveying so much without a single word being spoken. Hats off to the makeup and costume teams, who have flawlessly captured the essence of each character and production design is equally impressive which got down the accurate historical details like stamps on documents. This is a remarkable feat to achieve when historical authenticity walks hand in hand with the dramatisation of it! 

The actors of the show have done more than just embody their characters—they’ve created performances that will be historical themselves. Sidhant Gupta, Chirag Vohra, Rajendra Chawla, Arif Zakaria, Luke McGibney, and many others disappear into their roles to such an extent that, even with the use of archival footage interspersed throughout, it becomes nearly impossible to distinguish between the actors and the historical figures they portray. They bring these iconic personalities to life, walking in their shadows yet capturing their deeply human qualities. We see Jawaharlal Nehru’s naive idealism tinged with vulnerability, Mahatma Gandhi’s serene yet emotional artfulness, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s pragmatic sharpness, Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s resolute defiance, and Lord Louis Mountbatten’s diplomatic complexity.

While the final episodes may start to drag, causing the diplomats to feel more stereotyped and less nuanced. By turning pedestalized political figures into humans with differing ideologies, understanding the rootedness of their motivations yet never absolving them of the consequences of their actions, Freedom at Midnight offers to be a resonant political message. After all, if history shapes us, then in today’s political climate, it is more than necessary to go beyond recorded facts and this humanistic portrayal serves as a subtle call to reflect on the past, arguing us to re-examine the choices made, with a renewed sense of awareness!

Freedom At Midnight is currently streaming on SonyLIV!

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