The Waking of a Nation

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 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.

Waking of a Nation is a masterfully crafted series that weaves past and present into a seamless and compelling narrative. The storytelling is intelligent and immersive, keeping you emotionally invested from start to finish.

The bond between the three central characters is beautifully portrayed, adding depth to the historical and political themes. The performances, especially by the actress playing Poonam, are deeply moving and memorable.

The series delivers powerful moments of tension and triumph, making for a truly satisfying watch. It offers a fresh perspective on history, leaving a lasting impact. Highly recommended.

While The Waking of a Nation is largely about the Indian struggle for justice, it wouldn't have been as impactful without the actors who portrayed the British figures responsible for the massacre and its cover-up. Alex Reece as General Dyer, Carl Wharton as Lord William Hunter, and Paul McEwan as Michael O'Dwyer play their roles with chilling conviction, making the injustice feel even more real.

Alex Reece's portrayal of General Dyer is particularly striking. He embodies the cold ruthlessness of a man who believed he was simply carrying out his duty, making him all the more terrifying. He doesn't play Dyer as a loud, over-the-top villain but rather as someone disturbingly calm in his cruelty. His presence in the massacre scene is haunting, and his lack of remorse in the aftermath is infuriating.

Carl Wharton as Lord William Hunter brings a more controlled yet equally unsettling energy. As the head of the Hunter Commission, his character pretends to seek justice but is ultimately just another tool for the British administration to manipulate the narrative. His exchanges with Kantilal Sahni highlight the deep-rooted racism of the colonial system, where justice was never truly meant for Indians.

Paul McEwan's Michael O'Dwyer is arguably the most sinister of them all. Unlike Dyer, who pulled the trigger, O'Dwyer is the mastermind who ensured that the British Raj stayed in control through fear and suppression. His manipulative nature makes him one of the most frustrating characters to watch, yet his presence is crucial to understanding how the British system operated.

The brilliance of these performances lies in their restraint. None of them play exaggerated villains, yet their mere presence fills every scene with unease. Their performances make the viewer angry, frustrated, and heartbroken-all the emotions a series like this should evoke. The Waking of a Nation wouldn't be as powerful without them, and that's what makes their portrayals so essential to the story.

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.