Partition remains a seminal event that forged the political and cultural situation of the Indian subcontinent. On that note, it seems apt that Gurinder Chadha's upcoming film, Partition:1947, is set to be released in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Speaking at the trailer launch, Shubashish Sarkar, of Reliance Big Films, revealed that the film will have a simultaneous release in Bangladesh. Sarkar said, "Partition is as important on the western side of India as it is on the eastern front. So, we will have a simultaneous release in Bangladesh. The film has been passed by the censor board."
While the Indian and Bangladeshi audience will be able to view the film, it is yet to be cleared by the Pakistani censor board. Sarkar revealed that Reliance Big Films is trying to get a Pakistani release, but the film is yet to be cleared by the censors.
Earlier, director Gurinder Chadha had mentioned that the film is based on a 'sensitive subject'. The international version of the film came in for criticism for its depiction of the creation of Pakistan. Writer Fatima Bhutto, in particular, criticized the film for its 'servile' depiction.
The history of Partition told to us is a lie: Filmmaker Gurinder Chadha
However, Chadha defended her views, saying, "She is speaking from a privileged Pakistani position. I understand that she is coming from a position of anger, as young countries find it tough to grow in the competitive world. But the British Pakistanis loved the film and told me they did not know their history."
Partition: 1947 stars Huma Qureshi, Manish Dayal, Hugh Bonneville, Gillian Anderson, Michael Gambon and the late Om Puri. The film is set to be released on 18 August.