Batwara 1947 X review: Sunny Deol wins praise, viewers call film 'powerful'

Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi’s Batwara 1947 hit cinemas today, August 14. The fiilm is getting a positive response from viewers on X. Early reactions have praised the film’s emotional storytelling, characters and performances, with many viewers singling out Sunny Deol’s portrayal of Sikandar.Several viewers have described Batwara 1947 as an emotional family watch. One viewer called it a “complete family movie” and recommended taking parents to the theatre. The user also praised Shabana Azmi's character, saying the film could particularly appeal to women.Another viewer praised the film for making audiences uncomfortable before making them emotional. The post highlighted how Sikandar and Hamida's choices in the first half can frustrate viewers because neither character is shown as completely right or wrong.The viewer wrote that as the characters' fear, displacement and insecurity become clearer, their actions begin to look different. According to the post, this makes the character writing one of the film's strengths. Sunny Deol's performance was another major talking point. “Sunny Deol absolutely owns his character,” one viewer wrote on X.Another viewer said they went into the film expecting Sunny's familiar high-energy moments but were surprised by the quieter scenes. They particularly praised the relationship between Sikandar and Mai, saying Sikandar gradually beginning to see her as his own mother was beautifully portrayed. “Sunny's eyes do most of the work there,” the viewer wrote.Viewers praise Sikandar's character arcSome reactions also focused on how Sikandar changes through the film.One viewer said their favourite aspect was that Sikandar is not presented as a perfect hero from the beginning. The character makes choices in the first half that can make viewers disagree with him.However, as the story progresses, he is forced to confront his anger and prejudices. By the climax, the viewer said they were “completely rooting for him”.Another X user praised Sunny for showing that his acting goes beyond his famous dialogue delivery. They pointed out that while his shouting can still make a cinema hall erupt, Batwara 1947 also gives him moments where he barely speaks.“There’s a scene where he just looks completely helpless and you can feel the mood of the hall change,” the viewer wrote, praising Sunny's expressions.One X review summed up the film in one word: “Powerful.” The viewer gave Batwara 1947 a rating of 3.5 stars out of five and praised the Sunny Deol-Rajkumar Santoshi collaboration.The review listed the film's unconventional plot, strong emotions and performances among its strengths, while also praising its message.These are early social media reactions, and a wider critical picture may emerge as more reviews are published.Take a look at some of the posts on X:What is Batwara 1947 about?Set in Lahore during the 1947 Partition, Batwara 1947 explores the impact of the upheaval through the lives of ordinary people caught in a period of fear, displacement and uncertainty. Sunny Deol plays Sikandar, while Shabana Azmi plays Mai. The film features Preity Zinta as Hamida.The film reportedly draws inspiration from Asghar Wajahat's acclaimed play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai, whose title comes from a popular Punjabi saying about Lahore.Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Batwara 1947 released in cinemas on August 14.- EndsPublished By: shweta keshriPublished On: Aug 14, 2026 11:25 IST