Independence Day Special: Best Movies and Web Series on the Partition of India

While not solely focused on the Partition of India, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), featuring Farhan Akhtar, captures its deep emotional impact through the life of legendary athlete Milkha Singh. Born in undivided Punjab, Milkha’s childhood was torn apart by the violence and displacement of Partition. It’s worth a watch to understand how the Partition of India shaped not just history, but personal lives, including that of an iconic Punjabi athlete.

Train to Pakistan (1998) may be an older film, but its impact is anything but dated. Adapted from Khushwant Singh’s powerful novel, it offers a raw, unflinching look at life in Mano Majra—a border village torn apart during the Partition. Directed by Pamela Rooks, the story captures the heartbreak, confusion, and humanity of that turbulent time. Among Hindi movies on Partition, this one still hits hard.

Read more on Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan: Top 10 Books on Partition

Garm Hava (1974) is a landmark Partition film and the powerful debut of director M. S. Sathyu. Set in the horrific aftermath of Partition, it follows a Muslim businessman and his family as they navigate uncertainty, loss, and exclusion in a place they’ve always called home. Unflinching, authentic, and raw, it remains a timeless Partition of India movie, offering a look at the human cost of division.

Among the must-watch movies for Independence Day 2025, Tamas is a 1988 period television film based on Bhisham Sahni’s novel. Set in riot-torn North India during the 1947 Partition, it follows Nathu, an outcast whose unwitting actions spark communal violence. With a stellar cast including Amrish Puri and Om Puri, Tamas stands out as one of the classic Bollywood Partition films.

Read more about Bhisham Sahni’s Tamas: Top 10 Books on Partition

Midnight’s Children (2012) is an ambitious adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s acclaimed novel, directed by Deepa Mehta. The story follows two boys born at the stroke of midnight on Independence Day, whose lives are mysteriously intertwined with the fate of India and Pakistan. Sweeping across decades of political upheaval, Partition, and personal identity, the film captures the messy and often violent early history of both nations.

Pinjar (2003) is an India-Pakistan Partition film based on Amrita Pritam’s novel. It follows a Hindu woman’s abduction and her complex relationship with her captor amidst rising communal tensions during the Partition era. With standout performances by Urmila Matondkar and Manoj Bajpayee, Pinjar was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Feature on National Integration.

Now, let’s move on to some web series and documentaries on India-Pakistan history:

Freedom at Midnight (2024) is a recent historical drama series based on a book by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. It brings to life the events, socio-political issues, and religious unbalanced dynamics leading up to the Partition of India and Pakistan. A compelling watch for those looking to understand the human and political drama behind India’s Independence.

If you’ve been looking for a Partition of India documentary to watch this Independence Day, India’s Partition: The Forgotten Story (2017) is a must-watch. Directed by filmmaker Gurinder Chadha, it traces her journey from Southall to Delhi to uncover the truths behind one of the most violent upheavals in the Indian subcontinent. Through personal accounts and expert voices, the film lays bare how political ambition and colonial interests shaped the Partition—and left millions displaced and devastated.

Buniyaad (1986-89) is a television soap opera that traces the lives of a family caught in the upheaval of Partition. First aired on DD National, the series is known for its realistic portrayal of pre-Partition India on the small screen. At the heart of the story is Haveliram, a man balancing family responsibilities with his hope of living in an independent India. As the country divides, he and his family face the long shadows cast by displacement and loss.

Mulk is a television series set in pre-Partition Sheikhpura, near Lahore, where three friends lived in harmony with their families, reflecting a time when communities shared strong bonds. The story takes a sharp turn as Partition brings riots, fear, and division, tearing the families apart and replacing friendship with hostility. Through fractured relationships, Mulk portrays the emotional cost of Partition and how politics reshaped the lives of ordinary people.

If you're planning a watchlist for Independence Day 2025, these titles are a good place to start. These Partition of India movies and web series might be decades old or newly released, but each one brings a different lens to the same history.

So whether you're watching for the first time or returning to an old favourite, these films and series can offer a deeper understanding of what independence meant, and what it cost.