Director Ram Madhvani

Director Ram Madhvani’s upcoming series, The Waking of a Nation, promises to stand out with its unique filming approach and meticulous casting that brings the story’s authenticity to life. The series, set against the historical backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, showcases an innovative filming technique that breathes life into the narrative.

Madhvani discusses his methods, stating, “I’ve often been told that I’m an actor’s director. I am truly in service of my actor. I believe in the landscape of the human face. When we tested these actors, I found that there was a freshness to them, along with an innocence and hunger, which suited the script. To add to that, the way I shoot is quite different from what most actors are used to. I shoot in what we call 360 style, where I take extremely long shots, almost documentary-style, to get to the truth of the moment. In fact, for The Waking of a Nation, the longest shot I have taken is 90 minutes!”

He further explains the challenges his actors faced: “Firstly, these actors needed to have excellent memory because they needed to remember the lines. I needed actors who would not only be good actors but who knew how to not ‘act’ and who would submit to my 360-degree system. I am really happy with the truth, emotion, and soul that these young actors have brought to The Waking of a Nation.”

Set against the historic Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the story follows Kantilal Sahni, played by Taaruk Raina, a lawyer caught in a web of colonial deceit. The series delves into the investigation by the Hunter Commission, headed by Lord Hunter, as Kantilal grapples with racism, whitewashing, and the fight for truth. Bound by childhood friendship, Kantilal and his companions, played by Sahil Mehta (Ali Allahbaksh), Bhawsheel Singh (Hari Singh Aulakh), and Nikita Dutta (Poonam, Hari’s wife), face ideological differences but work together to unravel a conspiracy that reshapes their fate.