Batwara 1947 Review Roundup: Critics Praise Sunny Deol and Shabana Azmi's Partition Drama

Rajkumar Santoshi's Partition drama Batwara 1947 opened in cinemas on 14 August 2026 to generally positive reviews for its performances.

What happened

Bollywood Hungama gave the film 3 out of 5, calling it "a well-intentioned and moving tale of humanity". Its review singled out Sunny Deol and Shabana Azmi, praised the handling of religious sentiment and the emotional climax, and noted supporting turns from Preity G Zinta and Ali Fazal. It criticised the limited action, a lengthy second half and a missed chance to work as a mass entertainer.

The Hindu's review said the Sunny Deol–Shabana Azmi pairing "breathes life" into the drama. Filmfare's review was headlined "Humanity's triumph over hatred".

The film follows a displaced Muslim family who are given an abandoned haveli in Lahore, where its elderly Hindu owner refuses to leave. Aamir Khan Productions produced it.