As India gears up to celebrate Independence Day 2025, it's the perfect time to revisit stories that showcase the essence of life before 1947. From tales of love and courageous stories of rebellion and resistance, Indian cinema and streaming platforms have recreated the pre-independence era to give us a glimpse of what life looked like back then. Here’s a look at some movies and web series that bring alive the complexities, grandeur, and spirit of pre-independent India on screen.
Updated On: 2025-08-06 03:08 PM IST
Compiled by : Amarylisa Gonsalves
Kalank (2019)
2019's multistarrer Kalank is set in the 1940s in Lahore. The film explored themes of forbidden love, class divides, and hidden pasts against the backdrop of Partition.
Lagaan (2001)
Aamir Khan's 2001's Lagaan is set in 1893, wherein a group of villagers challenge British officers to a cricket match to avoid paying taxes.
Heeramandi (2024)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's hit web series Heeramandi is set in Lahore's red-light district during the British Raj. The story is about courtesans, female power struggles, and love amidst looming political unrest pre-partition.
Gandhi (1982)
Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi, released in 1982, traces the life of Mahatma Gandhi and India's non-violent struggle for freedom.
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015)
Starring Sushant Singh Rajput's noir-style detective thriller is set in 1940s Calcutta, amid WWII and Japanese bomb threats.
Kesari (2019)
With Akshay Kumar playing the lead, depicts the Battle of Saragarhi of 1897, where 21 Sikh soldiers fought against thousands of Afghan invaders under British India.
Tumbbad (2018)
2018's Tumbbad is a gothic horror film set in British India. It deals with the themes of greed, myth, and folklore.
Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)
Starring Aamir Khan, this 2005's patriotic film delved into the life of sepoy Mangal Pandey and his role in igniting the 1857 revolt against the British.
Junoon (1978)
This film, based on Ruskin Bond’s novella, is about the 1857 revolt. It explores themes of love and rebellion pre-independence.
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019)
With Kangana Ranaut headlining the film, Manikarnika revolves around the life of Rani Laxmibai and her valiant fight against British colonialism in 1857.
1942: A Love Story (1994)
This one is a love story between a revolutionary’s daughter and a British loyalist’s son. The love story is set amid the Quit India movement, having a more emotional focus than political.
Bulbbul (2020)
Bulbbul is a supernatural feminist tale set in a zamindar household in colonial Bengal, starring Triptii Dimri and Rahul Bose.
