SonyLIV’s adaptation of “Freedom at Midnight,” based on Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre’s 1975 book about India’s independence, is set for a second season following the success of its first. The seven-episode inaugural season concluded with a cliffhanger, prompting showrunner Nikkhil Advani to confirm that the upcoming season will address the refugee crisis resulting from India’s partition.
Advani highlighted the scale of the crisis, stating, “Twenty to thirty million people are going to be uprooted from their homes.” He noted that Mahatma Gandhi had predicted the chaos that would ensue from partition, which many believed would quell violence but instead worsened it. Advani recently discussed the series at the Film Bazaar in Goa, part of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Danish Khan, executive VP and business head of SonyLIV and StudioNext, indicated that Season 2 is expected to launch in 2025. He emphasized that adapting “Freedom at Midnight” aligns with Sony’s strategy to present authentic Indian narratives. “We will tell stories of India in a very authentic, cerebral way,” Khan stated, noting that their audience appreciates well-researched content.
One significant challenge in adapting the book was condensing decades of historical context into a coherent series format. Advani remarked on the complexity of covering events from August 16, 1946, when Muhammad Ali Jinnah delivered his Direct Action Day speech, to January 30, 1948. He described this period as a “roller coaster.”
Saugata Mukherjee, head of content at SonyLIV, added that adapting a 1,000-page non-fiction book while retaining its essence was a major hurdle. “The biggest challenge was how do you adapt a 1000-page book without losing its essence and making it enjoyable for a broad audience,” he said.
To reach a wider viewership in India, the series has been dubbed in Hindi, Malayalam, and Telugu. Khan expressed that the goal is for this story to resonate across different audiences.
As excitement builds for Season 2, fans can look forward to more historical insights and dramatic storytelling when “Freedom at Midnight” continues its journey on SonyLIV.
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