Freedom At Midnight Season 2 Review: Nikkhil Advani’s Brilliant Historical Drama Exposes Multiple Agendas

Nikkhil Advani returns with the second season of his historical drama Freedom At Midnight. Once again, it is lengthy and deeply detailed, taking cinematic liberties with real historical events, but this time the intensity, authenticity, and overall vision are noticeably sharper. I was slightly disappointed with the final two episodes of Freedom At Midnight Season 1. Carrying that experience forward, I expected Freedom At Midnight Season 2 to either remain in the same range or dip a little. Instead, it turned out to be surprisingly powerful—and in fact, better than the previous season. This is arguably Advani’s finest work in recent years, and I can say this loudly and clearly: there is nothing currently available that challenges it.

Freedom At Midnight Season 2 Story:

The story of Freedom At Midnight Season 2 begins a few weeks before Partition. Jinnah has secured his separate nation, Gandhi is heartbroken, and Nehru and Patel are deeply worried about the long-term consequences of Partition and the future of what remains of India. Mountbatten shockingly announces the date of Partition—August 15, 1947—just six weeks in advance, throwing everyone into chaos as millions are forced to gather their belongings and make the most life-altering decision of their existence. As borders, land, money, documents, princely states, rivers, and resources are divided, both sides find endless points of conflict. This leads to riots, confusion, violence, and irreversible damage. Gandhi’s persistent fasting to impose moral pressure, Nehru’s repeated tests of leadership, Patel’s firm and often blunt decision-making, and Jinnah’s never-ending bitterness toward “Hindustan” transport us back to some of the most painful and unforgettable moments in history.

Dhurandhar Creates New Record On Fifth Weekend; Set to Become Biggest Hindi Grosser Tomorrow –

The screenplay remains engaging despite its long runtime. In fact, the length feels necessary and justified, adding credibility and depth to the narrative. There are simply too many events to cover and layers to explore, and the series wisely allows itself that breathing space. The writing ensures that all major events are addressed, even if a few finer details are missing. Yes, several minor points are glossed over, but that is acceptable when you are attempting to cover a historical marathon in just seven episodes. What truly stands out, however, are the explosive revelations. Gandhi’s fasting for Pakistan’s benefit and the conditions attached to it will undoubtedly make viewers resent the Mahatma. This portrayal strongly connects to Nathuram Godse’s eventual outburst. Nehru and Patel are shown being forced into difficult decisions for Bapu’s sake. Just imagine—had Godse assassinated Gandhi a month earlier, Pakistan would have been left financially crippled. Scenes like these provoke discomfort, anger, and reflection. You may end up hating Gandhi and Nehru at several points, and rightfully so, because despite being towering leaders of the Congress party, they were human—and humans make mistakes. Jinnah’s portrayal is so ruthless and sharply etched that it may invite hatred from both Indians and Pakistanis. His obsession with power and legacy led to Pakistan’s separation and eventually contributed to it becoming far weaker than it ever could have been.

Freedom At Midnight Season 2 Cast:

Once again, the performances are exceptional. Every actor pours their soul into the character, bringing these historical figures vividly to life. Sidhant Gupta as Nehru and Rajendra Chawla as Sardar Patel are simply outstanding. Chirag Vohra delivers an impressive performance as Gandhi, especially in terms of body language and accent. Arif Zakaria plays Jinnah like no one else could have, while Rajesh Kumar looks perfectly cast as Liaquat. Full marks to Luke McGibney for his portrayal of Lord Mountbatten, and Cordelia Bugeja does well as his wife. Pawan Chopra breathes life into Maulana Azad, and Ira Dubey commands attention with her voice as Jinnah’s “fatty.” K.C. Shankar’s portrayal of V.P. Menon is so effective that it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. The supporting cast largely delivers, though there are a few hiccups with characters like Sarojini Naidu and Sam Manekshaw. Credit must go to the casting director for assembling such a remarkable ensemble in Freedom At Midnight Season 1 and Season 2.

Lionsgate’s The Housemaid Emerges as a HIT; Heading for $200 Million+ Total at the Box Office –

Freedom At Midnight Season 2 Series Review:

Since the series is set in a bygone era, strong production design was essential—and it delivers. Small details such as props, lighting, costumes, locations, and the integration of archival footage come together impressively. The cinematography is beautiful, the editing sharp, the art design solid, and the background score works effectively in many scenes, though it slightly underwhelms in a few moments. Ultimately, the biggest credit goes to Nikkhil Advani’s storytelling. His narrative structure, sense of authenticity, intensity, innovative use of edits, zooms blended with old footage, and his ability to extract career-best performances from his cast are remarkable. Most importantly, he captures the feel of the era. He first makes you despise Gandhi and Nehru, only to ultimately elevate them as legends by the end—a very calculated, safe, and secular narrative choice. He could have easily taken one political side and created hysteria by pandering to a specific ideology, but instead, he remains largely faithful to historical facts, even while exercising cinematic liberty. That vision deserves respect, especially in an age where many filmmakers openly promote propaganda to appease right-wing sentiments. Advani is clearly cut from a different cloth. Three cheers for that. Overall, a good and very important series to look at.