Stories of soldiers and their acts of bravery frequently travel from the front line to the celluloid, giving us a glimpse of the hardships and sacrifices they make to keep citizens safe. On the occasion of India’s 77th Independence Day, here are five Hindi movies based on real-life soldiers who inspire us with their stunning courage under fire.
Shershaah (2021)
The biographical war film directed by Vishnuvardhan is based on the life of Captain Vikram Batra, an officer in the Indian Army who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honour, for his actions during the 1999 Kargil War.
Headlined by Sidharth Malhotra, Shershaah depicts Captain Batra’s journey from his early days and entry into the Indian Army to his bravery and sacrifice in the battlefield. The film’s title is the code name given to Captain Vikram Batra for his courageous acts in the Kargil War.
Stream it on: Amazon Prime Video
Raazi (2018)
An espionage thriller directed by Meghna Gulzar, Raazi is based on Harinder Sikka’s novel, Calling Sehmat. Set during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, the story follows Sehmat Khan (Alia Bhatt), who marries a Pakistani military officer (Vicky Kaushal) as a cover to gather intelligence for India.
The film deftly weaves suspense and a young girl’s subterfuge under great risk to collect vital information from the Pakistani family she’s been married into. The call of patriotism comes at a cost for Sehmat as she has to steel her heart, scotch her feelings for her loving husband and show unflinching courage in the face of danger. Raazi is worth a watch just for the gripping narrative and Alia Bhatt’s powerful performance.
Stream it on: Amazon Prime Video
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020)
Directed by Sharan Sharma, this is a biographical film on Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, the first Indian woman to fly in combat during the Kargil War. Janhvi Kapoor plays Gunjan Saxena and Pankaj Tripathi is her father.
The film traces Gunjan’s journey of defying societal norms and overcoming gender bias to pursue her dream of joining the Indian Air Force. The narrative highlights her determination, the challenges she faces in a male-dominated workforce and her heroic act during the Kargil War.
Stream it on: Netflix
Major (2022)
This too is a biographical film and it pays tribute to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan of the National Security Guards who lost his life during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks while saving hostages at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
Featuring Adivi Sesh in the lead role, the film directed Sashi Kiran Tikka’s Major portrays how Unnikrishnan would readily put himself in danger if it meant saving someone’s life. It shows his turmoil when faced with the task of choosing between service and family. As he grapples with the dilemma, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks occur and Unnikrishnan dives into his role as a major in the National Security Guards.
Stream it on: Netflix
Bell Bottom (2021)
A spy thriller directed by Ranjit M Tewari, Bell Bottom stars Akshay Kumar as a covert Indian intelligence agent Anshul Malhotra, also known as Bell Bottom, who is assigned the task of rescuing hostages from a hijacked Indian Airlines plane. Set in the 1980s, the film draws inspiration from real-life events, specifically the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 423 in 1984.
The film combines action and suspense as agent Bell Bottom works to outwit the hijackers and ensure the safety of the passengers. The film’s period setting, retro styling and portrayal of a heroic spy character are notable.
Stream it on: JioCinema
