India, Aug. 14 -- In two months, Hindi cinema has seen the release of two big films set during the Partition of India. Mind you, I use the term Partition, not Independence, because these two films make that distinction clearly. Both Main Vaapas Aaunga and Batwara 1947 talk about the human cost of the Partition of India and Pakistan, but without talking about the hatred or vitriol. These are films about love, about hope, and most importantly, about learning from the past. Two films may not signify a trend, but 2026 has shown that Bollywood can speak sensitively about something as painful as the Partition.

Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga is a love story that transcends time and borders. Set in 1947, it is about Keenu (Vedang Raina) and Jiy...