New Delhi: On this day, April 14, 104 years ago, Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered the brutal killing and executed the non-violent unarmed protesters and pilgrims gathered in Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab’s Amritsar on the occasion of Baisakhi. Since then, several filmmakers have attempted to show the viewers what the scene was like at the tragedy site. Here are some of the films which highlighted the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Sardar Udham Singh
Starring Vicky Kaushal, the film showed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in an intense way, sending chills down the spine. This Shoojit Sircar-directed film is by far the longest representation of the incident onscreen. As for Vicky Kaushal, he managed to bring out the emotion of the scene perfectly. While the movie was about Sardar Udham Singh’s life, this was the incident that shaped the way his life progressed and this is one of the prime reasons why he became a freedom fighter.
Phillauri
Anushka Sharma played a spirit from pre-independence India searching for her fiancé Diljit Dosanjh. She later discovers that he was killed at Jallianwala Bagh. This moving love story has a dramatic ending based on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that leaves one in tears.
Midnight’s Children
Midnight’s Children is a feature film adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s 1981 novel of the same name. The book has an entire chapter dedicated to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the movie also features a scene on the same topic. Directed by Deepa Mehta, it got mostly positive reviews from the audience.
Rang De Basanti
Omprakash Mehra’s multi-starrer (2006) depicted the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in the most honest way. It used the incident as a metaphor for corrupt politicians, policemen, and government officials, and how a young IAF pilot lost his life due to the system. It earned National Film Award for Best Popular Film, along with several other accolades, including a nomination for BAFTA Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
The Legend Of Bhagat Singh
Ajay Devgn played revolutionary socialist Bhagat Singh in this movie helmed by Rajkumar Santoshi. It has a scene showing Bhagat Singh as a young Sikh boy witnessing the tragic event which changed his life forever. The 2002 release film won two National Film Awards – Best Feature Film Hindi and Ajay Devgn won Best Actor.
Gandhi
Released in 1982, Gandhi is a period biographical movie based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Directed by Richard Attenborough, it talks about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in a moving speech by Gandhiji. The re-enactment of the brutal and shocking incident is sure to make you tear up. Gandhi earned 11 nominations at the 55th Academy Awards and won eight, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Ben Kingsley.
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