Partition

Synopsis

The tumultuous events surrounding the sub-continent's partition in 1947 into India and Pakistan are re-imagined in Ken McMullen's Partition. A lunatic asylum in the city of Lahore becomes a mirror image of events in the outside political world, with the same actors playing both inmates and rulers. Adapted by Tariq Ali and McMullen from famous Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto's short story Toba Tek Singh, Partition speaks for the countless millions that the usual British Raj films sweep out of sight.

Special Features

- Audio commentary by director Ken McMullen and writer Tariq Ali
- A Rebellious Soul – The Making Of Partition (1987, 17'23 mins)
- Filmed interview with writer Tariq Ali
- Filmed conversations with actors Saeed Jaffrey and Roshan Seth
- Production designer Paul Cheetham discusses the visual architecture of the film
- Booklet features a reprint of Sadaat Hasan Manto's short story Toba Tek Singh and Ken McMullen in conversation with James Leahy