'Freedom at Midnight' series review: A straight-up history lesson that clings to facts but sacrifices drama

You can hear a clock ticking in almost every scene of Freedom at Midnight. The historical drama chronicles the events that led to India’s independence, dampened by the horrific reality of the Partition. Watching the show was like seeing through a glass wall, as the makers of modern India, and Pakistan, MK Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, MA Jinnah and Lord Louis Mountbatten debated over the destinies of millions. Freedom at Midnight is the third period drama series from Nikkhil Advani, after The Empire and Rocket Boys. They are trying to mediate between the Congress: godfathered by Gandhi and fronted by Nehru and Sardar Patel ; and Jinnah’s Muslim League.