Partition, Identity, and Reconciliation in Maati (2018): A Review

Maati, directed by Saibal Banerjee and Leena Gangopadhyay, is a Bengali-language drama that delves deep into the aftermath of the Partition of India in 1947. It explores themes of identity, cultural dislocation, and societal stereotypes, particularly regarding divisions between majority and minority communities. The film brings forth the human side of historical trauma, intertwining personal and collective histories in a way that resonates with contemporary socio-political tensions.

The narrative of Maati revolves around the journey of its protagonists, who are torn between their cultural heritage, divided loyalties, and the complex identities shaped by the horrors of Partition. The characters grapple with the trauma of being displaced from their ancestral lands, and the filmmakers carefully depict how these shifts in geography and identity lead to a deep sense of loss and longing. The central theme of the film revolves around the notions of belonging, where the soil “Maati” in Bengali, becomes both a symbol of rootedness and a source of torment, as the characters struggle to find peace in a divided world.

Rather than focusing solely on historical events, the film highlights the personal consequences of large-scale societal upheavals, capturing pain, tears, and unrecorded histories. Maati paints a vivid picture of the suffering and violence inflicted by Partition on ordinary people, showcasing the lives of refugees and displaced families caught between borders, both literal and emotional.

The film also addresses the deep-rooted stereotypes that continue to shape the perceptions of majority and minority communities, confronting viewers with uncomfortable truths about how societal and cultural prejudices were heightened during Partition. Those who were once beloved friends and neighbors, celebrating life’s events together, found themselves transformed into enemies due to communal boundaries. The sense of discrimination, the suppression of marginalized groups by dominant elites, and the rise of nationalist sentiments asserting that the nation belonged to a single group fueled civil unrest.

Historically, the Partition of 1947 was one of the most significant and traumatic events in South Asian history, fundamentally reshaping the region’s political, social, and economic landscape. It led to the creation of two independent nations—India and Pakistan (which included East Pakistan, now Bangladesh). The consequences of this division were profound, affecting inter-state relations, communal identities, and leading to widespread violence and refugee crises. While Punjab bore the brunt of Partition-related violence, Bengal also witnessed communal riots, such as those in Noakhali and Kolkata. Massive population movements ensued, with people migrating across borders in search of safety, creating long-term demographic and political tensions.

Between 1947 and 1971, East Pakistan’s sense of alienation within the Pakistani state grew due to economic neglect and political domination by West Pakistan. This became a defining issue, culminating in India’s support for Bengali nationalism and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, further complicating Indo-Pak relations. A cultural and linguistic identity crisis emerged when Urdu was imposed as the national language of Pakistan, creating friction, as Bengalis, the majority ethnic group demanded recognition of their linguistic and cultural identity. The struggle for linguistic rights, exemplified by the 1952 Language Movement, sowed the seeds of future conflicts.

Unlike Punjab, where migration was more immediate and the border militarized, migration from East Pakistan to India continued in waves due to recurring riots and political instability. The porous Bengal border allowed continued migration, leading to social tensions that persisted for decades.

A critical interrogation of Partition raises the question, was it a solution or a prolonged crisis? The failure of the Two-Nation Theory became evident with the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, challenging the fundamental premise of Pakistan’s formation and proving that religion alone was insufficient to unify diverse ethnic and linguistic groups. Furthermore, the colonial role in hastily drawing the Radcliffe Line exacerbated divisions, leaving behind a legacy of suffering.

Echoes of an Unfinished Past

The themes explored in Maati, displacement, contested identities, and nationalism, are not confined to the past but continue to shape present-day realities. The socio-political fault lines created by Partition have resurfaced in Bangladesh’s 2024 civil unrest, where struggles over national identity and political power echo the historical tensions depicted in the film.

The protests that erupted in July 2024, initially against the government’s job quota system favoring descendants of 1971 Liberation War veterans, quickly escalated into widespread political turmoil. The unrest resulted in numerous deaths, mass arrests, and allegations of human rights violations. By August 2024, the crisis culminated in the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India amid growing instability. An interim, military-backed government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, assumed power, yet political uncertainty and economic challenges persist.

These developments have further strained Bangladesh-India relations, as Hasina’s presence in India has led to diplomatic tensions. Bangladesh has accused her of attempting to destabilize the interim government and has formally requested her extradition, a move India has yet to respond to. Meanwhile, incidents such as the arson attack on the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader and Hasina’s father, have added to the volatility, exposing how contested historical narratives continue to shape political conflicts.

Like Maati, which underscores how historical wounds remain open in the subcontinent, the 2024 crisis in Bangladesh reveals how the unresolved legacy of Partition continues to dictate national and regional politics. The same anxieties over belonging, identity, and political marginalization that the film captures remain key issues in contemporary Bangladesh, where the state’s control over historical narratives often determines political legitimacy. The film’s core question, can reconciliation ever be achieved without addressing the deeper structures of exclusion and nationalism?, is just as relevant in contemporary  South Asia as it was in 1947.

Technical and Cinematic Aspects

From a technical standpoint, Maati is a beautifully shot film that captures both the grand scale of Partition’s impact and the intimate struggles of its characters. The deliberate pacing allows the audience to feel the weight of each moment and the inner turmoil of the protagonists. The cinematography, lighting, and music work together to evoke a deep sense of nostalgia, loss, and the psychological burden of history.

The film’s message is clear: the soil, or Maati, may divide, but it also binds. The land that once nurtured shared histories and communal ties has also become the battleground for competing identities and exclusionary politics. Through its exploration of memory and displacement, Maati seeks to offer a sense of hope, suggesting that reconciliation is possible.

However, while Maati is a sensitive and thought-provoking film, a more critical engagement with its political subtext could have strengthened its commentary on Partition’s enduring legacy. By keeping its critique largely personal rather than structural, the film stops short of interrogating the broader state policies, nationalist discourses, and border politics that continue to shape the lives of those affected by Partition. As contemporary events in Bangladesh demonstrate, the political fault lines drawn by Partition have not been erased but have instead evolved into new forms of exclusion, state control, and historical amnesia.

Final Thoughts

By situating Maati within the broader political and historical landscape of South Asia, the film serves as a reminder that Partition was not merely an event of the past, it remains an unresolved process, continually reshaping identities and geopolitical realities. The 2024 civil unrest in Bangladesh exemplifies how questions of history, identity, and nationalism remain central to political conflicts, making Maati not just a film about the past, but a lens through which to comprehend the present.

The Bengali film “Maati”

Directed by Saibal Banerjee and Leena Gangopadhyay

Produced by Magic Moments Motion Pictures.

Casted Adil Hussain, Paoli Dam, Shankar Chakraborty, Laboni Sarkar, Chandan Sen, Aparajita Auddy, Monami Ghosh, and Anusuya Majumdar.

Cinematography was done by Sirsha Ray

Edited by Subhajit Singha

Aparupa Golui

Intern, Asia in Global Affairs

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the filmmakers, production companies, or any entities associated with the film “Maati.” This writing is intended for informational and analytical purposes only and does not aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of the film’s content. The historical and political interpretations presented here are based on the author’s perspective and understanding of the subject matter. Readers are encouraged to watch the film and form their own opinions.