Toba Tek Singh is a 2018 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Ketan Mehta, based on a short story by Saadat Hasan Manto. The film is set in the backdrop of the partition of India in 1947 and takes place in a mental asylum situated in Lahore, which was home to Hindu, Muslim and Sikh patients who were abandoned by their families.
The film features an ensemble cast of actors including Pankaj Kapur, Vinay Pathak, Nankana Sahib Singh, and others. Pankaj Kapur plays the role of Bishen Singh, an elderly Sikh patient who is waiting to be sent to his hometown Toba Tek Singh. He wanders around in a state of confusion, trying to make sense of the turmoil and violence around him.
The film explores the deep bonds of friendship between the patients, who are forced to live together in the asylum. They come from different faiths and regions, but the shared experience of mental illness brings them together. As they share their stories and experiences, the audience is exposed to the harsh realities of the partition, which led to the displacement and suffering of millions of people.
Toba Tek Singh is a moving and poignant film that tackles themes of identity, belonging, and the human condition. It is a reminder of the toll that violence and division can take on society, and the importance of compassion and empathy in times of crisis.