Unfortunately C.J.S. Wallia’s review for IndiaStar was the only review I could link to.
The author perceived the film as weak, with undeveloped characters and historically inaccurate. Leaving aside the accusation that Earth “distorts the historical role of the Sikhs” during India’s partition (an opinion that I can neither accept or dispute as I don’t know enough about the Sikhs), I do feel that the characters were purposely shallow and somewhat superficial.
As Wallia writes, the film tells the story of the 1947 events from the perspective of Lenny, the young girl better known as Lenny Baby in the movie. Lenny's family are well-to-do Parsees who keep up the Parsee tradition of remaining neutral or, as Lenny’s mother describes, invisible. Until the tragedy hits their home, the family cloaks itself oblivion. Through her ayah (nanny) Shanta, Lenny becomes confronted with what is happening as India enters independence and is seemingly arbitrarily divided by Britain into Pakistan and India. As Hasan describes, the large religious groups in India – Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs – have lived together for centuries like “brothers”, sharing their language, food and enemies. But on the eve of independence and Indian partition, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs are beginning to keep to themselves and are trying to find blame with each other for the new developments.
From the view of an eight-year old Parsee girls and her family, who desperately try to stay neutral and distance themselves from the events, the Muslims and Sikhs that form Shanta’s clique are feverish, simple and stereotypical. The family simply would not know enough about the Sikh Sher Singh, the Muslim Ice-Candy Man Dil Navaz and the Hindu masseur Hasan to see these characters in their complexity. Thus during the few times when Lenny accompanies Shanta to the group’s gatherings, the characters are trimmed down to religious stereotypes: warrior Sikhs (“bloody nuisances)and religiously righteous Muslims (“we’ll put the fear of God up your Hindu trousers”). Solely Hasan, a Hindu who is progressive, diplomatic and tolerant much like Lenny's family, is seen as more complex.
Overall, I did not feel that it was the film's purpose to teach the viewer history of India's independence and partition, rather the film wants the viewer to look inside and see how far she/he would be willing to stay neutral and apolitical. I think that's question we all should ask ourselves today.
