Freedom at Midnight director Nikhil Advani: It’s time we reworked our history books
In an exclusive interview, director Nikhil Advani discusses his latest series Freedom at Midnight, which discusses India’s independence, partition and the need for a more honest portrayal of history.
Filmmaker and producer Nikhil Advani talks about his ambitious historical series, Freedom at Midnight, which releases on Sony Liv on November 15. With a stellar cast including Siddhant Gupta, Ira Dubey, Arif Zakaria and Malishka Mendonsa, the seven-episode series delves into the dramatic moments surrounding India’s independence and the painful consequences of Partition.
Advani, known for his diverse works, shares his thoughts on the responsibility of staying true to the story, handling sensitive historical events, and why he believes there is a need for sweeping changes in the portrayal of history in our textbooks. Is.
One of the major concerns surrounding historical dramas is how audiences will interpret sensitive topics, especially those involving deeply divisive periods in history. When asked if he was worried about how viewers might react to the show’s exploration of the Indian independence struggle and Partition, Advani said, “I don’t know why I would be worried at all. The second point of view cannot be the fact that India got independence on August 15, 1947. There can be no debate on the fact that partition took place soon after.
“Certain people were responsible for bringing us to that point and certain events, like time bombs, exploded all over India. From August 16, 1946, when Muhammad Ali Jinnah called for direct action, to January 30, 1948, when Mahatma Gandhi Gandhi was assassinated, we witnessed events that led to some of the most difficult decisions in history.”
Advani was firm in his belief that the depiction of these events freedom at midnight Will not be subject to reinterpretation. He said confidently, “If anyone tries to interpret it differently, that’s their problem, not mine.” “A lot of hard work and research has gone into this show, and I hope people appreciate the work we’ve done.”
Adapted from the book Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, the series is unapologetic about its approach to history. Advani shared that there are significant omissions in India’s history books that need to be addressed. A key line of the series reads, “History you may not know, but history you should know.” For Advani, it’s not just a line from a show – it’s a philosophy.
“I think now is the right time to include these missing pieces of history,” he said. Drawing inspiration from his love of history, Advani wrote a book on William L. Cited Shirer’s The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, where the first paragraph reads, “Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.” Advani believes it is important to revisit these historical truths so that the past can help shape a more informed future.
As a storyteller, Advani has often been drawn to complex, difficult subjects, no matter what the subject matter. Smt Chatterjee vs NorwayThe Rocket Boys, or now, Freedom at Midnight. When Advani was asked about his drive to tackle such challenging stories, he admitted, “Even my wife asks me the same thing: ‘What motivates you to take on difficult stories? ‘ I don’t have any answers, I’m just attracted to them.”
He further added, “At Emme Entertainment, we always try to punch above our weight. If people hold us to a certain standard, we aim to exceed that.”
Advani explained that many people were initially skeptical about the potential success of his last few projects, but he was proven right. “When Ashima Chhibber sent me the script of Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, no one wanted to make it. But when I showed it to Monisha, she said, ‘We have to do it immediately.’ And it turned out to be a great film.”
Similarly, Advani recalled when he met Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Dr. Homi J. for the first time after Rocket Boys. When he mentioned making a show about Bhabha’s life, many people were unsure. “They asked me, ‘Who are they?’ I said, ‘One is the father of nuclear energy, and the other is a space scientist.’ He wondered if the show would just be about solving equations!” He laughed. “But here we are, and despite initial doubts, we had full support for Freedom at Midnight.”
