HonestViews Review of Partition

Partition (2007)

Good attempt by an overseas director on a sensitive issue

[7/10 · 26 January 2011]

Partition is a good attempt to narrate the story of the protagonists, in the backdrop of the partition of India (as India and Pakistan) in 1947. Though knowledge of the actual partition would help understand the story better, it is not a prerequisite as such. The main protagonists (Gian and Naseem) have given stellar performances, and so have few others like Neve Campbell (Margaret Stilwell) and Irfan Khan (Avtar). The script is strikingly similar to a Bollywood (Hindi) movie titled "Gadar - A Prem Katha" released in 2001 and became very popular too. Unlike Gadar...., Partition is a very mellowed-down version of the story of partition and its disastrous effect on communities on both sides of the border. Partition makes up in its subtlety, what it lacks in terms of melodrama and high octane performances of Gadar.... Perhaps having seen the Hindi movie earlier, the comparison was inevitable. Partition should keep you gripped till the end, with its fabulous characterizations and performances of the lead actors. The movie ends differently too, leaving you convinced of the improvisation of the script. Just for the performances and the suspense it's worth the time.