The Waking of a Nation

I love historical dramas, but what really impressed me about this one is how it focuses on the lead-up to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre instead of just showing the event itself. It makes you feel the weight of every decision, every miscommunication, and every act of power that led to one of the darkest moments in history.

Kantilal Sahni's role as a member of the Hunter Commission adds a fascinating angle. He isn't a hero or a revolutionary-he's a man stuck inside a system that's only pretending to seek justice. As he starts to uncover the truth, his struggle becomes personal, and that's what makes this show so compelling.

The courtroom scenes are some of the most gripping moments in the series. The performances are strong, and you can feel the frustration as the truth is twisted to serve political interests. The massacre itself is handled with restraint, making it all the more powerful when it happens.

This show is a reminder that history is never as simple as we think. It's always shaped by those in power, and this series does an incredible job of showing how that happened.

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.

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........

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.

Most shows about historical events focus on the big moments, but this one is different. It's not just about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre-it's about the tensions that led to it, the people who tried to stop it, and the system that covered it up afterward. That's what makes it so gripping.

Kantilal Sahni is such an interesting character because he starts off believing in the system. He thinks the Hunter Commission is there to find the truth. But as he listens to testimonies and sees how the British manipulate the investigation, he realises he's part of something much bigger-and much more dangerous. Watching his moral struggle unfold makes the story feel incredibly real.

The courtroom debates are some of the best moments in the series. The arguments, the frustration, the moments where you can see the truth slipping through the cracks-it's all so well done. The production quality is top-notch, from the costumes to the historical details that make colonial India feel alive.

It's rare to find a historical drama that feels this immersive. This isn't just about remembering history-it's about understanding how it was shaped.