Midnight's Children

BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

By: Salman Rushdie

Narrated by: Nikesh Patel, Meera Syal, Anneika Rose, Preeya Kalidas, Aysha Kala, full cast

Nikesh Patel stars as Saleem in BBC Radio 4's epic dramatisation of Salman Rushdie's Booker Prize-winning novel of love, history and magic.

Saleem Sinai is born on the stroke of midnight on 14th-15th August 1947, at the exact moment that India and Pakistan become separate, independent nations. From that moment on, his fate is mysteriously handcuffed to the history of his country.

But Saleem's story starts almost thirty years earlier, when his grandfather, Dr Aadam Aziz, falls in love with a woman concealed behind a perforated sheet. That pivotal moment in Kashmir in 1919 sparks a series of bizarre events that will lead to a cryptic prophecy and the birth of a boy with an extraordinary destiny. As a 'Midnight's Child', Saleem has magical powers, and can telepathically tune in to all the other gifted children whose birth coincided with India's division. However, his strange entanglement with the fate of India will have dramatic repercussions for both him and his country....

Adapted by Ayeesha Menon, this dazzling dramatisation of Rushdie's many-layered, magical realist masterpiece is both an enthralling family saga and a riveting history of post-colonialism. First broadcast to mark the 70th anniversary of the Partition of India, it features Nikesh Patel as Saleem, with a star cast including Abhin Galeya, Meera Syal, Anneika Rose and Narinder Samra.

Also included is an interview with Salman Rushdie, in which the author talks to radio drama director Emma Harding about his multi-award winning novel.

Midnight's Children won the Booker Prize in 1981, and was subsequently awarded the 'Booker of Bookers' prize in 1993 and 'The Best of the Booker' prize in 2008.

©2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Critic reviews

"Radio drama of the year." (Gillian Reynolds, The Telegraph)

Magical!

This was so much more than what I was hoping to find in a book as famous as this one!

Superb

I remember reading this book in college. This excellent production brought back the book as I then imagined it. One of, if not the, best performances of an exquisite book on Audible!

Fantastic dramatization

I was so enthralled by the dramatization that I want to read the original book now! Thank you BBC for making it so unique, it was like watching a movie! Also, I very much appreciated the interview with the author at the end.

Wow just wow

This production of one of my most beloved books was just phenomenal. It was like listening to a movie. I did not need visuals because it activated my imagination. The acting was superb (I mean the cast is full of actual actors). I felt sad the last chapter because I could have listened forever. The book is phenomenal and this brought the book to life. I can’t praise it highly enough. I’m wary of most audibles because maybe the book is not well written or the pronunciations are just way off but this was truly a treat.

Really nice story and great interpretation

I enjoy a lot this audiobook. The story is well thought, and quite interesting, specially if you like India's history. I actually just regret that the audiobook didn't last longer. The interpretation is great. I would only complain that unlike other audiobooks this one required more attention because of the background noises and the fact that some voices overlap a little from time to time. I recommend this audiobook.