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{{Short description|Indian 2025 web series by Ram Madhvani}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = The_Waking_of_a_Nation_Poster.jpeg
| caption = The Waking of a Nation Poster
| genre = History<br>Thriller
| creator =
| developer =
| writer =
| story =
| director = {{Plainlist|*[[Ram Madhvani]]}}
| creative_director =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
*[[Taaruk Raina]]
*[[Sahil Mehta (actor, born 1997)|Sahil Mehta]]
*Bhawsheel Singh Sahni
*[[Nikita Dutta]]
}}
| narrator =
| composer =
| country = India
| language = Hindi<br>English
| num_seasons =
| num_episodes = 6
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|*Udayan Baijal
*Ankita Batra}}
| music = Sameer Uddin
| producer = {{Plainlist|*Amita Madhvani
*Ram Madhvani}}
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
*Kavya Sharma
*Dhawalika Singh}}
| editor = {{Plainlist|
*Abhimanyu Chaudhary
*Amit Karia
}}
| screenplay = {{Plainlist|*Shantanu Srivastava
*Shatrujeet Nath
*Ram Madhvani}}
| camera =
| runtime =
| company = Ram Madhvani Films
| network = [[SonyLIV]]
| network2 =
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|2025|03|07}}
| first_aired2 =
| last_aired2 =
}}
'''''The Waking of a Nation''''' is a 2025 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[historical drama]] web series streaming on [[SonyLIV]] based on the events leading to the [[Jallianwala Bagh massacre]] in 1919.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-10 |title=The Waking of a Nation teaser: Ram Madhvani set to explore the Jallianwala Bagh 'conspiracy' in new show |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/the-waking-of-a-nation-teaser-ram-madhvani-set-to-explore-the-jallianwala-bagh-conspiracy-in-new-show-9828117/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> It was directed by [[Ram Madhvani]] and produced by Amita Madhvani and Ram Madhvani, under banner of [[Ram Madhvani Films]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Waking of a Nation trailer: Taaruk Raina fights to expose truth behind Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Watch |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/the-waking-of-a-nation-trailer-taaruk-raina-fights-to-expose-truth-behind-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-watch-101740400941616.html|newspaper=Hindustan Times|first=Riya|last=Sharma|date=24 February 2025|accessdate=3 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Tina |date=2025-03-03 |title=Who asked Dyer to pull the trigger? 'Waking of a Nation' takes new look at Jallianwala Bagh |url=https://theprint.in/feature/who-asked-dyer-to-pull-the-trigger-waking-of-a-nation-takes-new-look-at-jallianwala-bagh/2529049/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303142426/https://theprint.in/feature/who-asked-dyer-to-pull-the-trigger-waking-of-a-nation-takes-new-look-at-jallianwala-bagh/2529049/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-11 |title=The Waking of a Nation OTT Release: Where to watch Taaruk Raina-Nikita Dutta's thrilling series |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/binge/the-waking-of-a-nation-ott-release-where-to-watch-taaruk-raina-series-set-against-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-652476.html |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Indiatimes |language=en-IN}}</ref>

It starred [[Taaruk Raina]], [[Sahil Mehta (actor, born 1997)|Sahil Mehta]], Bhawsheel Singh Sahni and [[Nikita Dutta]] in main roles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-24 |title=Waking of Nation trailer: Taaruk Raina fights to prove Jallianwala Bagh was planned |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/the-waking-of-a-nation-trailer-taaruk-raina-fights-to-prove-jallianwala-act-was-planned-2684901-2025-02-24 |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=2025-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250226114242/https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/the-waking-of-a-nation-trailer-taaruk-raina-fights-to-prove-jallianwala-act-was-planned-2684901-2025-02-24 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Trailer of Ram Madhvani's 'The Waking of a Nation' unveiled |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/entertainment/bollywood/trailer-of-ram-madhvanis-the-waking-of-a-nation-unveiled20250224223118/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=ANI News |language=en |archive-date=2025-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224182145/https://www.aninews.in/news/entertainment/bollywood/trailer-of-ram-madhvanis-the-waking-of-a-nation-unveiled20250224223118/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The series was released on SonyLIV on 7 March 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-10 |title=The Waking of a Nation: Makers of Neerja bring Taaruk Raina starrer based on Jallianwala Bagh massacre |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/ott/the-waking-of-a-nation-makers-of-neerja-dhamaka-aarya-bring-taaruk-raina-nikita-dutta-starrer-series-based-on-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-2025-02-10-975531 |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=India TV News |language=en |archive-date=2025-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312175947/https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/ott/the-waking-of-a-nation-makers-of-neerja-dhamaka-aarya-bring-taaruk-raina-nikita-dutta-starrer-series-based-on-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-2025-02-10-975531 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=The Waking of a Nation: Makers of Neerja bring Taaruk Raina starrer based on Jallianwala Bagh massacre |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/ott/the-waking-of-a-nation-makers-of-neerja-dhamaka-aarya-bring-taaruk-raina-nikita-dutta-starrer-series-based-on-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-2025-02-10-975531 |archive-date=2025-03-12 |access-date=2025-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312175947/https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/ott/the-waking-of-a-nation-makers-of-neerja-dhamaka-aarya-bring-taaruk-raina-nikita-dutta-starrer-series-based-on-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-2025-02-10-975531 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Waking Of A Nation Teaser: Ram Madhvani's Series Uncovers Truth Behind The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/the-waking-of-a-nation-teaser-ram-madhvanis-series-uncovers-truth-behind-the-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-aa-9222267.html |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref> Various critics rated the show with 2 to 3 stars out of 5.

== Plot ==
On 13 April 1919, a British army officer, Brigadier-General [[Reginald Dyer]], ordered his troops to shoot at a crowd of unarmed and peaceful Indians that had assembled at [[Jallianwala Bagh]] in [[Amritsar]] to protest against the [[Rowlatt Act]]. The firing lasted for roughly five minutes, during which 1,650 rounds were fired. The number of casualties is still debated, but the British Government later accepted that nearly 400 Indians had been killed in the shooting.

A textbook example of the tyranny of the British Raj, the Amritsar Massacre – later known as the [[Jallianwala Bagh massacre|Jallianwala Bagh Massacre]] – became a watershed moment in India’s freedom movement, galvanizing the entire nation to rise against its colonial master and setting India’s struggle for independence in motion.

The massacre at Jallianwala Bagh caused such public outrage that the British Government was compelled to set up the Disorders Inquiry Committee to investigate the incident. The findings of the inquiry divided the Commission along racial lines, with its British members refusing to view the massacre as a symptom of systemic racialism, while its Indian members insisted that race relations and [[white supremacy]] lay at the core of the violence. The Hunter Commission’s report singularly blamed Brigadier-General Dyer for the massacre, and as a consequence, the general was stripped of his rank and asked to resign.

But what led General Dyer to march into Jallianwala Bagh and execute such a heinous crime? What did the riots that had torn through Amritsar three days earlier on 10 April have to do with the massacre? What did this have to do with the arrest and deportation of Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Kitchlew, two prominent and well-respected Gandhian leaders in Amritsar? And what role did Punjab’s Lieutenant-Governor [[Michael O'Dwyer|Michael O’Dwyer]] play all through this tragic episode?

Most importantly, was Brigadier-General Dyer singularly responsible for the massacre, or was he acting on specific orders?

Waking of a Nation: Jallianwala Bagh is a web series that explores the frictions and triggers behind the Jallianwala Bagh massacre through the eyes of Kantilal Sahni, a fictitious member of the Hunter Commission. Putting the events surrounding the massacre under a microscope, the series uncovers a deep conspiracy rooted in the colonial notion of white superiority. The show reimagines history based on the Hunter Commission’s inquiry, and deals with issues like racism, prejudice, whitewashing, half-truths and the redaction of history. Waking of a Nation: Jallianwala Bagh also looks at how India became India.

==Cast==
*[[Taaruk Raina]] as lawyer Kantilal Sahni
*[[Sahil Mehta (actor, born 1997)| Sahil Mehta]] as Ali Allahbaksh <ref>{{Cite web |last=Rachavelpula |first=Kausalya |date=2025-02-11 |title=Ram Madhvani's The Waking of a Nation Explores Colonial Injustice, Streaming on Sony LIV from March 7 |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/ram-madhvanis-the-waking-of-a-nation-explores-colonial-injustice-streaming-on-sony-liv-from-march-7-944393 |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=www.thehansindia.com |language=en |archive-date=2025-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212054229/https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/ram-madhvanis-the-waking-of-a-nation-explores-colonial-injustice-streaming-on-sony-liv-from-march-7-944393 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Bhawsheel Singh Sahni as Hari Singh Aulakh
*[[Nikita Dutta]] as Poonam Aulakh
*[[Paul McEwan (actor)|Paul McEwan]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-10 |title=The Waking of a Nation teaser: Ram Madhvani set to explore the Jallianwala Bagh 'conspiracy' in new show |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/the-waking-of-a-nation-teaser-ram-madhvani-set-to-explore-the-jallianwala-bagh-conspiracy-in-new-show-9828117/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> as [[Michael O’Dwyer]]
*Jamie Alter as Colonel Morgan
*Carl Wharton as Lord William Hunter
*Raymond Bethley as Commissioner Kitchin
*Alex Reece <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-10 |title=The Waking of a Nation teaser: Ram Madhvani set to explore the Jallianwala Bagh 'conspiracy' in new show |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/the-waking-of-a-nation-teaser-ram-madhvani-set-to-explore-the-jallianwala-bagh-conspiracy-in-new-show-9828117/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=2025-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213110010/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/the-waking-of-a-nation-teaser-ram-madhvani-set-to-explore-the-jallianwala-bagh-conspiracy-in-new-show-9828117/ |url-status=live }}</ref> as [[Reginald Dyer|General Dyer]]
*Tómas Howser as Deputy Commissioner Miles Irving
*Ant Wright as Plomer
*Matt Metcalfe
*Mark Brailsford
*Ikhlaque Khan
*Adhyay Bakshi
*Rita Sigmond
*Leda Hodgson
*Robbie Boyle
*Jake James Harrison
*Baljinder Singh Darapuri

== Release and reception==
''The Waking of a Nation'' premiered on 7 March 2025, on OTT Platform [[SonyLIV]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Waking Of A Nation Trailer : Revisiting Jallianwala Bagh Massacre {{!}} Filmfare.com |url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/the-waking-of-a-nation-trailer-revisiting-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-71721.html |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=www.filmfare.com |language=en}}</ref>

Hardika Gupta of ''[[NDTV]]'' gave 2 stars out of 5 and said that "Unlike other portrayals of this historical event - such as [[Sardar Udham]] or [[Rang De Basanti]] - director Ram Madhvani does not dwell on the bloodshed itself."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gupta|first1=Hardik|title=The Waking Of A Nation Review: A Reverent But Uneven Dissection Of The Jallianwala Bagh Massacrey|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/the-waking-of-a-nation-review-a-reverent-but-uneven-dissection-of-the-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-2-stars-7875396|website=NDTV|language=en|date=8 March 2025|access-date=12 March 2025|archive-date=8 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250308064407/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/the-waking-of-a-nation-review-a-reverent-but-uneven-dissection-of-the-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-2-stars-7875396|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Deepa Gahlot]] of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' gave 2.5 stars and writes that "Ram Madhvani's series is all over the place and also boring to watch".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gahlot |first1=Deepa|title=Review: The Waking Of A Nation: Boring!|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/the-waking-of-a-nation-review/20250307.htm|website=rediff.com|language=en|date=7 March 2025}}</ref>
Rahul Desai ''[[The Hollywood Reporter India]]'' said that "Ram Madhvani period drama lacks the technical finesse to explore the Jallianwala Bagh massacre."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Desai |first1=Rahul|title=
'The Waking of a Nation' Series Review: All Gunpowder, No Bullets|url=https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/reviews/streaming/the-waking-of-a-nation-series-review-all-gunpowder-no-bullets|website=The Hollywood Reporter India|date=7 March 2025}}</ref>
[[Alaka Sahani]] of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' rated 2/5 stars and said "The Ram Madhvani-directed middling historical drama based on the events leading to Jallianwala Bagh massacre is too verbose and lacks dramatic tension".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sahani|first1=Alaka|title=The Waking of a Nation review: Series that probes the events leading up to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre lacks punch|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/the-waking-of-a-nation-review-series-that-probes-the-events-leading-up-to-the-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-lacks-punch-9873682/|website=The Indian Express|language=en|date=7 March 2025|access-date=12 March 2025|archive-date=7 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307124239/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/the-waking-of-a-nation-review-series-that-probes-the-events-leading-up-to-the-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-lacks-punch-9873682/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Nandini Ramnath of ''[[scroll.in]]'' said about the weries that "In its effort to slap viewers out of their perceived stupor, The Waking of a Nation does itself a huge disservice. The desired impact could have been achieved without jumbling the timeline or working overtime to prove a conspiracy that isn’t exactly one – history rather than hysteria."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ramnath|first1=Nandini|title=Review: 'The Waking of a Nation' works overtime to prove a conspiracy angle|url=https://scroll.in/reel/1080008/review-the-waking-of-a-nation-works-overtime-to-prove-a-conspiracy-angle|website=scroll.in|language=en|date=7 March 2025|access-date=12 March 2025|archive-date=11 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311171434/https://scroll.in/reel/1080008/review-the-waking-of-a-nation-works-overtime-to-prove-a-conspiracy-angle|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sana Farzeen of ''[[India Today]]'' gave 3 stars out of 5 and writes in her review that " For history buffs, the six-episode show is going to be a decent weekend watch. But if you’re expecting a stirring dose of patriotism or an emotionally gripping tale, you may walk away disappointed."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Farzeen|first1=Sana|title=The Waking of a Nation review: Ram Madhvani's sincere attempt leaves little impact|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/the-waking-of-a-nation-review-ram-madhvani-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-sonyliv-2690223-2025-03-07|website=India Today|language=en|date=7 March 2025|access-date=2025-03-12|archive-date=2025-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307073441/https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/the-waking-of-a-nation-review-ram-madhvani-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-sonyliv-2690223-2025-03-07|url-status=live}}</ref>
Devesh Sharma of ''[[Filmfare]]'' rated 2.5/5 stars and said that "It takes us to the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre but sluggish pace and inconsistent writing mar the impact".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sharma|first1=Devesh|title=The Waking Of A Nation Season 1 Review: Slow And Theatrical|url=https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/web-series/the-waking-of-a-nation-72029.html|website=Fimfare|language=en|date=7 March 2025|access-date=12 March 2025|archive-date=7 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307104714/https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/web-series/the-waking-of-a-nation-72029.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Aishwarya Vasudevan of ''[[OTT Play]]'' gave 2.5 stars out of 5 and observed that "The Waking of a Nation explores the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre through a courtroom drama but falters with repetitive flashbacks. Taaruk Raina shines, yet the series struggles to stay engaging."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Vasudevan|first1=Aishwarya|title=The Waking of a Nation review: Ram Madhvani's historical drama struggles to stay awake despite Taaruk Raina's sincere performancel|url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/the-waking-of-a-nation-review-ram-madhvani-taaruk-raina-historical-drama-struggles-to-stay-awake/c401431e41925|website=OTT Play|language=en|date=7 March 2025|access-date=12 March 2025|archive-date=12 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312152347/https://www.ottplay.com/review/the-waking-of-a-nation-review-ram-madhvani-taaruk-raina-historical-drama-struggles-to-stay-awake/c401431e41925|url-status=live}}</ref>
Abhinav Singh of ''[[Mashable India]]'' said "The Waking of a Nation is a show that’s skippable only because it spends more time pandering to emotions rather than hooking the viewers."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Singh|first1=Abhinav|title=The Waking Of A Nation Review: Despite Powerful Performances, Weak Writing Drags Down Ram Madhvani's New Series|url=https://in.mashable.com/entertainment/90936/the-waking-of-a-nation-review-despite-powerful-performances-weak-writing-drags-down-ram-madhvanis-ne|website=Mashable India|language=en|date=7 March 2025|access-date=12 March 2025|archive-date=12 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312162621/https://in.mashable.com/entertainment/90936/the-waking-of-a-nation-review-despite-powerful-performances-weak-writing-drags-down-ram-madhvanis-ne|url-status=live}}</ref>
Archika Khurana of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave 2.5 stars out of 5 and writes that "The Waking of a Nation is an ambitious but inconsistent historical drama that struggles to balance its engaging premise with effective storytelling."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Khurana|first1=Archika|title=The Waking Of A Nation Season 1 Review : Ram Madhvani's historical drama struggles to leave an impact|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/the-waking-of-a-nation/season-1/seasonreview/118698144.cms|website=The Times of India|language=en|date=7 March 2025|access-date=12 March 2025|archive-date=12 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312153840/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/the-waking-of-a-nation/season-1/seasonreview/118698144.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt15910280}}

[[Category:Indian drama television series]]
[[Category:Hindi-language television shows]]
[[Category:SonyLIV original films]]
[[Category:Indian web series]]
[[Category:Indian historical drama films]]

The Waking of a Nation - Revision history

KateHinson76890: New info - done