[2] The film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the title character of Indo-Pakistani, author and writer Saadat Hasan Manto.

[5][6] Das made a short film titled In Defence of Freedom, also starring Nawazuddin in the main role, and was released on YouTube on 23 March 2017.

One day, Shyam, on hearing that his family was forced to flee Pakistan because of a Muslim mob attack, tells Manto in anger: "I could have even killed you."

Lahore, 1948: A melancholic city full of refugees, forsaken property, and burnt buildings devoid of hope becomes Manto's new home.

Relentless and long-drawn court trials alleging obscenity in his story Thanda Gosht (literal meaning: Cold Meat) take a severe toll on his health and finances.

His compulsions to write and drink are in direct conflict with his desire to see his family - his wife and two daughters, happy and secure.

Unable to see his family suffer any longer, he finally admits himself into the alcohol rehabilitation center at Lahore Mental Hospital.

The Sikh protagonist, who has vowed to remain standing until he finds his village, lies in death in no-man's land, between the two nations.

Saadat Hasan Manto's (1912–1955) short stories set during the devastating partition of the Indian subcontinent were his defining works.

In November 2015, it was reported that Nandita Das had approached actor Irrfan Khan to play the leading role in her film Manto.

Nandita said that, "Irrfan fits the role to the T as he speaks fluent Urdu, looks a lot like Manto and, above all, is a wonderful actor.

Nandita said that, "I have had Nawazuddin in mind from the very outset, but in India, economics always interferes with art and there was pressure on me to cast a more mainstream star.