Batwara 1947 / Indien 2026. Filmfestival Box Office Around The World 2026

The Schlüterhof will become a gathering place for film enthusiasts from all over the world—complete with summery drinks and snacks.

The open-air festival presents six current feature films that are “box office hits” in their countries of origin but have not yet been shown on the big screen in Germany. Before the screenings, we invite you to themed spotlights to get you in the mood—with celebrity guests!

The Box Office Around the World festival presents six current feature films over two weekends in August—films that are audience favorites and box office hits in their countries of origin but have not yet been shown on the big screen in Germany.

Representatives from Berlin’s communities from Thailand, Argentina, Nigeria, Vietnam, Brazil, and India selected the films together with curator Dorothee Wenner and developed an accompanying program: Before the open-air screenings, we’ll shine a thematic spotlight on each film—featuring a star-studded lineup.

Batwara 1947 / Rajkumar Santoshi / India 2026 / Historical film

Hardly any other film in the current Indian cinema season is as eagerly anticipated as *Batwara 1947*—we’re presenting the production to coincide with its world premiere!

This historical feature film, starring Bollywood superstars Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, and Shabana Azmi in the lead roles, is set in Lahore shortly after the country’s dramatic partition. A Muslim family flees there from Lucknow, India, and is assigned the beautiful estate of a displaced Hindu Punjabi family. But to their surprise, Mai, an elderly Hindu woman, shows up and insists that the haveli still belongs to her. The initially conflict-ridden coexistence between Mai and the new residents tells of the aftermath of the traumatic events of loss, displacement, and crime in 1947—and how these people nevertheless managed to continue living together.

The film’s screenplay is based on the 1989 play *Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai* by Asghar Wajahat, which is banned in Pakistan. The title is borrowed from a proverb: “Whoever has not seen Lahore has not lived.” We’re adopting it as the theme for the pre-screening discussion.

Program

8:00 p.m.: Discussion with Dorothee Wenner (moderator) and others (in German)

9:00 p.m.: Film screening
Further Information

10 EUR / reduced rate 5 EUR
Rajkumar Santoshi / India 2026 / Historical film / Hindi with English subtitles / Rated R
Location: Schlüterhof
Part of:Box Office Around The World