Indian streamer SonyLIV has unveiled the cast and a first look for its magnum opus series “Freedom at Midnight.”
Based on the 1975 non-fiction book by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, the political drama delves into India’s independence movement, weaving together untold tales and critical moments from the era when the country’s then British colonial rulers partitioned the country into India and Pakistan.
Sidhant Gupta (Prime Video series “Jubilee”) plays Jawaharlal Nehru, who became the first Prime Minister of independent India, Chirag Vohra (SonyLIV series “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story”) Mahatma Gandhi and Rajendra Chawla (Netflix film “Looop Lapeta”) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who became the first deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India.
The series is produced by Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani for Emmay Entertainment in association with StudioNext and Sony LIV. Nikkhil Advani (SonyLIV series “Rocket Boys”) serves as the showrunner and director. The series is written by Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng Das, Gundeep Kaur, Divya Nidhi Sharma, Revanta Sarabhai and Ethan Taylor.
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Danish Khan, business head of SonyLIV and StudioNext, said: “‘Freedom at Midnight’ will be our most ambitious project, promising to deliver a series of unparalleled scale and impact. Based on the literary masterpiece where history is told as a thriller and captivate audiences with its narrative depth and authenticity. Under the leadership of Nikkhil Advani and his remarkably skilled team, the transition from page to screen will be nothing short of extraordinary. We at SonyLIV, StudioNext are delighted to collaborate with Emmay Entertainment to bring this highly relevant and electrifying story of India’s independence to our audiences across the world.”
“Freedom at Midnight” is part of a strong 2024 SonyLIV slate that Variety revealed earlier this year.
Advani said: “The show has been a result of unwavering dedication and relentless determination, sparked by a simple conversation with Danish Khan about the iconic book. Our commitment to authenticity has been unwavering throughout this journey. This show is a profound tribute to the luminaries of our freedom movement — Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — who courageously led the charge for independence. We, at Emmay Entertainment, are elated to present this narrative that encapsulates the essence of modern India, and there’s no better platform for it than SonyLIV, a trailblazer in showcasing content that not only celebrates India’s heritage but also resonates with global audiences.”
“Over the course of interacting on ‘Rocket Boys’ and now ‘Freedom At Midnight’ I think Danish-sir and myself have become not just collaborators but friends. For many the platform is on the other side of the table, but Danish-sir sits on the side of the creator. He thinks like us and he empowers us. He took one second after hearing the initial pitch of ‘Rocket Boys’ to greenlight the show and for ‘Freedom,’ well he came to me with a sparkle in his eye and asked ‘How would you like to make your favorite book into a show?,’” Advani added.