Review of Partition

Gian Singh (Jimi Mistry) and Avtar Singh (Irrfan Khan) are Sikh officers in the Indian Army sent to Burma under the command of Andrew Stilwell who lives with his sister Margaret (Neve Campbell). Five years later, 1946, Andrew is dead. Gian and Avtar return to their village in Sarsa, Punjab. In 1947, the British leave and India is divided in two. Avtar is part of a group which massacres a Muslim caravan. Gian had refused to join. He finds survivor Naseem Khan (Kristin Kreuk) and shelters her. Muslim atrocities from the other side anger Avtar and his men. The villagers become suspicious and discovers the girl. Gian convinces them to allow her to go to Pakistan and asks Margaret to find her family. Time goes by and Gian marries Naseem. They have a child together. When Margaret finally finds Naseem's family, Naseem eagerly travels to Pakistan for a month but she's overdue without any news. Gian tries but cannot cross the border. He converts to Islam as Mohammad Hassan. It's not an easy journey and at the end of it, he finds that Naseem's family had been keeping her prisoner.

There is a small compelling love story in this movie. As a romance, this movie works very well. Neve Campbell complicates the story unnecessarily. The movie is fine as an Indian love story and it doesn't really need a British hand in it. Kristin Kreuk is an unlikely choice to play an Indian. Jimi Mistry does a solid job. Irrfan Khan is masterful as both the villain and as the closest friend. The movie does lack the scale at times, and the cinematography needs better style. It's a small Canadian production that is punching well above its weight.