# Shabana Azmi steals hearts but Batwara 1947 gets mixed reviews

2026-08-14T09:17:03+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

Batwara 1947, Rajkumar Santoshi’s partition drama, has drawn a divided response from critics, according to NDTV reviews. Shabana Azmi has been widely praised for her performance, described as stealing hearts. Sunny Deol also wins appreciation for his quieter, emotive scenes, adding weight beyond his usual action-hero persona. While some call the film one of Santoshi’s best works, others feel the storyline is stuck in the past. The mixed verdict reflects sharply differing opinions on whether the film’s focus on historical wounds resonates or feels dated.

## Coverage

- ndtv.com <https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/batwara-1947-x-reviews-shabana-azmi-steals-a-million-hearts-but-film-gets-a-mixed-verdict-11908545#publisher=newsstand>
- ndtv.com <https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/batwara-1947-review-shabana-azmi-does-what-naseeruddin-shah-did-in-main-vaapas-aaunga-3-stars-11909555>

Tags: Batwara 1947, Bollywood, Film reviews, Partition, Rajkumar Santoshi, Shabana Azmi
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