Courtroom drama meets freedom struggle in ‘The Waking of a Nation’ on SonyLIV | Watch Teaser

SonyLIV is set to bring a lesser-known chapter of history to life with 'The Waking of a Nation,' a gripping fictional series created and directed by National Award-winning and International Emmy-nominated filmmaker Ram Madhvani. The show will premiere on 7 March.

Set during the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the series follows Kantilal Sahni, played by Taaruk Raina, a lawyer caught in the web of colonial deception. As the Hunter Commission manipulates history to favour the ruling British Empire, Kantilal confronts racism, erasure, and the battle for truth.

Despite their ideological differences, Kantilal and his childhood friends—Ali Allahbaksh (Sahil Mehta), Hari Singh Aulakh (Bhawsheel Singh), and Hari’s wife, Poonam (Nikita Dutta)—unravel a conspiracy that alters their fates. As they fight to expose the hidden truths, they must decide whether to challenge the system or be consumed by it.

Speaking about the series, Madhvani said, “I have always been deeply interested in colonialism and, by extension, the issues of racism and prejudice. Questions surrounding cultural, linguistic, social, and artistic colonisation have long troubled me. As I was contemplating my next project, I knew it had to be rooted in our past, in the British Raj, and in our freedom struggle. That’s when the idea for 'The Waking of a Nation' came to life. Thanks to SonyLIV, we now have an exciting show that combines a courtroom drama with the powerful story of three friends and how India became India.”

Produced by Ram Madhvani and Amita Madhvani under the Ram Madhvani Films banner, the series boasts a strong ensemble cast, including Taaruk Raina, Nikita Dutta, Sahil Mehta, Bhawsheel Singh, Alex Reece, and Paul McEwan. Written by Shantanu Srivastava, Shatrujeet Nath, and Madhvani, the show blends historical intrigue, friendship, and the power struggles that shaped the investigation.