Cinema VinesSunny Deol’s long‑awaited film Batwara 1947 opened in Indian theatres on August 14, drawing praise from filmmaker Ramesh Taurani, who had the chance to view the movie a day early. Taurani, who attended a screening with producer Aamir Khan and actor Ali Fazal, posted a photo from the theatre on Instagram and wrote that the film is a “deeply sensitive, moving and truly humanity‑glorifying” story that “deserves to be watched First Day, First Show.” He highlighted the movie’s powerful reminder of human resilience and compassion during the darkest chapters of history.
The review lauded the cast performances, noting Sunny Deol’s “terrific and deeply impactful” portrayal of a Muslim man who relocates to Pakistan during Partition and finds a Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, living in his new home. Taurani praised the chemistry between Deol and his son Karan Deol, who plays his on‑screen son, and complimented Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh and Preity Zinta for bringing depth, intensity and authenticity to their roles. He also singled out Abhimanyu Singh as a “terrific” villain, creating a character that is both compelling and unsettling.
Director Rajkumar Santoshi received kudos for once again telling a story that strikes an emotional chord. Taurani wrote that Santoshi’s ability to infuse humanity, emotion and heart into his films is “truly special.” He congratulated producer Aamir Khan Productions and co‑producer Aparna Purohit on delivering a beautifully made film with a powerful message, calling Batwara 1947 a must‑watch.
The film’s plot follows Deol’s character as he navigates the turbulence of Partition, protecting the woman who now lives in his house while keeping his family safe. It also marks Preity Zinta’s return to the big screen after nearly a decade and the first on‑screen collaboration between Sunny Deol and his son. The ensemble cast includes Ali Fazal, Khushi Hajare and Kanikka Kapur.
Box‑office figures show that Batwara 1947 sold around 30,000 tickets nationwide on its first day, grossing ₹81 lakh, according to Sacnilk. In contrast, Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2, which opened at the same time and was backed by Aamir Khan Productions, had sold over 1 lakh tickets and grossed ₹3.25 crore from advance bookings, giving it a comfortable lead by Thursday noon.
