The Waking of a Nation

The Waking of a Nation is an emotionally charged historical drama that brings together a stellar cast to tell one of India's most painful stories. The massacre itself is just one piece of the puzzle-the series explores the individuals who fought, suffered, and sought justice in its aftermath.

Sahil Mehta and Bhawsheel Singh Sahni are fantastic as Allahbaksh and Hari, portraying the everyday people who found themselves caught in the storm of colonial oppression. Nikita Dutta's Poonam brings emotional depth, showing grief in its most silent yet powerful form.

Among the British figures, Paul McEwan's Michael O'Dwyer stands out for his cold, calculated presence. He doesn't raise his voice, yet his words are enough to make you angry. Carl Wharton as Lord William Hunter is equally compelling, bringing an air of superiority that makes the courtroom battles even more intense. The role of Hansraj, the British informant, is particularly interesting, showing the internal betrayals that made resistance even more challenging.

The cinematography captures the brutality of the massacre without glorifying it, while the courtroom sequences are as intense as the physical confrontations. Every frame is designed to pull you into this moment in history, making it impossible to look away.

I accept the cinematic inaccuracies that have been pointed out in many reviews of this movie. I too did get bored with the movie dragging so much. However, I would like to highlight that the incident described in the movie happened more than a 100 years ago and in these years no director had the will and courage to enlighten us on the reality. All Indians have only heard of and criminalized General Dyer in our heads. Had it not been for movies like Sardar Udam and this one, our youth would still be behind the veil. So I would encourage all to see this movie as it is really an eye opener........

Anwar Says: An event JALIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE at Amritsar and the name of General Dyer is synonymous with it and here the director Ram Madhwani tried to expose the real conspiracy and bring into light the truth through Courtroom scenes of Hunter Commission appointed by the then British Empire . The fictional character Kantilal Sahni is loosely taken from the advocate Sir Chimanlal Hiralal Setalvad , who cross-examined Dyer and so Madhvani rubs off TRUE EVENTS after writing in the openings of WAKING OF A NATION ,streaming on sonyliv.

Kanti , played by Taaruk Raina, is present in almost 95% of the frames and keep on narrating the facts with his monologues and series of flashbacks. Here is the problems with the webseries . So many time frames are used in flashbacks, courtroom lacks intensity and many a times repetitive. But the sets , actual British characters and in particular depiction of massacre through sound engineering and let you visualise the scene are the features of Madhvani creation. Nikita Dutta has also played her role superb as Munshi of publishing house.

The series will definitely appeal the History loving audience, since this would add some depth to their knowledge of Freedom Movement and for common audiences it is definitely an interesting watch in spite of some of its shortcomings.

#SonyLIV #anwarsays #FreedomMovement #jalianwalabagh #GeneralDyer #amritsar #RamMadhvani #taarukraina #huntercommission #rowlettact.

The Waking of a Nation is a gripping series that does more than recount a historical tragedy-it makes you feel the weight of the injustice, the pain of loss, and the resilience of those who endured it.

Sahil Mehta and Bhawsheel Singh Sahni are exceptional as Allahbaksh and Hari, their chemistry making the tragedy of their fate hit even harder. Nikita Dutta's Poonam is a quiet but commanding presence, portraying sorrow with such depth that her grief lingers in every scene she's in.

Paul McEwan as Michael O'Dwyer is chilling in his calm cruelty, embodying the worst of colonial arrogance. Carl Wharton as Lord William Hunter brings a controlled menace to the courtroom sequences, making every legal battle feel like a fight for dignity. Hansraj, the British informant, is another key figure, showing the devastating consequences of betrayal from within.

The cinematography captures both the chaos of the massacre and the quiet despair that followed. The contrast between the bloodshed in Jallianwala Bagh and the cold, calculated proceedings in the courtroom is striking, making the injustice feel even more unbearable.

I wasn't expecting this series to feel so personal, but the way it's told through Kantilal Sahni's perspective makes everything hit harder. He's not a hero or a fighter-he's just a man trying to do his job, only to realise that justice is never what those in power actually want.

The slow buildup to the massacre is what makes the show so gripping. You see the tensions rising, the way small decisions keep pushing things toward disaster, and how no one in authority is willing to take responsibility. Even though you know what's coming, you keep hoping something will change.

The performances are brilliant, especially in the courtroom scenes where you can see how words are being twisted to fit a pre-planned conclusion. The cinematography adds to the tension, with shots that make you feel like you're in the room, watching history being manipulated in real time.

This series doesn't just tell a story-it makes you question everything you thought you knew about it.