Freedom blues done right

SERIES REVIEW

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A still from Freedom at Midnight

But that's not all. Freedom at Midnight also gets the basics right. There is a clean sense of structure in the seven-episode narrative. The dramatic stakes only get higher with each successive episode. The dialogues succinctly capture the pathos of a nation in turmoil. The use of chapters bewilders you at first, but makes sense when you think of the scale on which Nehru and Patel were operating to get things in order — where barriers often came in a queue.

The show is also impressive in its vivid production design that perfectly recreates the aura with great aesthetic sense without overpowering the storytelling. Every frame looks carefully designed. There are plenty of long, complex single take shots that draw you into the universe.

In one of its most striking accomplishments, the makers succeed in merging documentary footage in a seamless manner. They also make the choice of shooting some of the fictional sequences in a documentary-like style which deftly balances realism and drama.