New Delhi, 1st June, 2026: Following intense anticipation, Eclectic Films and Dr Swarnjit Singh hosted an exclusive screening of their upcoming documentary film, “1947: Brexit India”, in the capital on Sunday. The event was graced by Member of Parliament and prolific author Dr. Shashi Tharoor as the Chief Guest, alongside an elite gathering of diplomats, historians, and media veterans.
Directed by Sanjivan Lal, written by the legendary Shama Zaidi, and narrated by Bollywood icon Boman Irani, the documentary offers a shift from standard political histories. It dissects the 338-year British presence through a clinical economic lens, examining how a bankrupt post-war Britain, squeezed by strategic American loan mandates, rushed the Partition to shift the immense human and logistical liabilities onto a divided India and Pakistan. Alongside Dr Shashi Tharoor and Boman Irani, the film also features world-renowned historian William Dalrymple; security expert Commodore Uday Bhaskar; and celebrated political scientist Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed, among other distinguished scholars.
The screening was attended by a cohort of thought leaders, including H.E. Mr. M. Riaz Hamidullah, H.E. Ambassador Maliki, H.E. Mahishini Colonne, Naseer Abdullah and others. The reception of the film was highly reflective, with many attending guests noting that the film offers a fresh, necessary lens on the events of 1947, bringing forward a financial dimension of history that is rarely explored in standard academic teachings.
Speaking about the event, Dr. Shashi Tharoor remarked, “History is never merely about the past; it continues to shape the present. Delighted to have contributed to this thoughtful exploration of India’s long encounter with British rule.”
He also added that every Gen Z and Gen Alpha must watch this documentary if they want to truly understand the British rule in India’s independence.
Dr. Swarnjit Singh, the film’s Producer and Concept Creator, added, “To see a project that took over a decade of archival research resonate so deeply with this room of brilliant minds is incredibly validating. We didn’t set out to make a conventional historical film. We wanted to audit the Empire. The British entered as merchants, operated through a mafia-style grip on our resources, and cut a hasty deal the moment the balance sheet turned red. This screening proves that audiences are hungry for the economic truths behind 1947.”
Director Sanjivan Lal stated, “Framing ten years of dense research data into a gripping narrative was a massive creative challenge. Our goal was to let the numbers speak alongside the human tragedy. The overwhelming response from the media and dignitaries tonight shows that looking at the Partition through this economic lens changes the conversation entirely.”
The documentary, which was an official selection at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2023 and Mumbai International Film Festival(MIFF) 2024, is currently gearing up for its highly anticipated digital premiere on a major OTT platform.