Bharat
2019 · India
- Director
- Ali Abbas Zafar
- Screenplay
- Ali Abbas Zafar
- Producer
- Atul Agnihotri
- Music
- Vishal–Shekhar
- Based on
- Ode to My Father
What the critics say
32 % Rotten Tomatoes positive reviewsCast
What it is about
In 2010, Bharat Kumar, a shopkeeper in Delhi, refuses to sell his store despite tempting offers. On his 70th birthday he looks back on his life for his grandniece, and the film moves back to 1947, when, as a boy, he and his family board a train to India to escape the violence of Partition. From there the story traces the country's post-independence history through the eyes of an ordinary man.
How it was made
Bharat is a remake of the South Korean film Ode to My Father (2014), which also followed one man's life alongside his country's history. Principal photography began in mid-April 2018 and took place in Abu Dhabi, Spain, Malta, Punjab, Delhi and other locations. Priyanka Chopra, cast as one of the leads, left the project days before her scenes were to be shot and was replaced by Katrina Kaif. The music was composed by Vishal-Shekhar, with lyrics by Irshad Kamil.
Reception and legacy
The film opened on 5 June 2019, timed to Eid al-Fitr, and received mixed reviews. Critics praised the performances, the story and the screenplay, but many faulted the second half and the running time. It was a commercial success and one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2019.
Stills
Trailer
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Trivia
Last-minute replacement
Katrina Kaif took over from Priyanka Chopra, who left the film days before her scenes were due to be shot. Nikhil Namit, CEO of Reel Life Productions, said her departure was due to her engagement to Nick Jonas.
A replaced song
The song “Chashni” was originally sung by Atif Aslam, but he was replaced in the final version of the film.
More films by Ali Abbas Zafar
Sultan
Tiger Zinda Hai
GundayOriginal Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.