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.

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 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.

The most powerful thing about this series is how it makes you feel the weight of history, not just as an event but as something shaped by those in power. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre is often remembered as a single moment, but this show digs deeper, exposing the political tensions and motivations that led to it.

Kantilal Sahni's role as a member of the Hunter Commission adds so much depth to the story. He isn't a freedom fighter or an activist, he is just a man doing his job-until he realises that the job isn't about truth, it's about control. His slow realisation that justice isn't the goal, but rather the justification of power, is what makes this series so compelling.

The courtroom sequences are some of the best I've seen in a historical drama. The performances are gripping, making you feel the frustration of seeing history being rewritten right in front of you. The massacre itself is portrayed with restraint, not for shock value but as a moment that shifts the course of the story entirely.

This series doesn't just tell you what happened, it makes you feel the helplessness, the anger, and the resistance that followed.