Gadar: Ek Prem Katha

Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, directed by Anil Sharma and starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, is an Indian film set during the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan, following the love between a Sikh truck driver and a Muslim woman. The film draws on the real story of Boota Singh and Zainab: Boota, a Sikh who had fought in the British army, married a Muslim woman he had rescued, but Zainab was forcibly returned to her family in Pakistan under a post Partition repatriation program, and when Boota could not win her back, he took his own life by jumping in front of a train. Made on a budget of about 18.5 crore rupees, the film grossed roughly 133 crore rupees, making it one of the highest grossing Indian films of its time, reaching more than 50 million viewers. The film drew controversy over its portrayal of Pakistan and Muslim characters; actress Shabana Azmi criticized it as provocative. Who it's for: anyone curious about a love story rooted in a real Partition era tragedy, one of the most watched Indian films of its time, though also one that drew serious criticism for its portrayal. Who it's not for: those wanting a balanced treatment of all sides of Partition, since the film faced significant criticism over how it depicts Muslim characters.