Revisit these stories of courage and commitment to the nation

From ‘Sam Bahadur’, a biopic based on the life of India’s first Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw, to ‘Raazi,’ a spy thriller set against the backdrop of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, Hindi cinema has produced some notable films that depict heroism and patriotism. As the country celebrates its 78th year of Independence this year, here is a curated list of films that showcase a diverse range of stories.

Shershaah

The biopic directed by Vishnuvardhan is based on the inspiring life of Kargil martyr Captain Vikram Batra. It stars Sidharth Malhotra in a dual role, portraying both Vikram and his identical twin brother, Vishal Batra. Hailed as a sincere tribute to the Kargil war hero, the film showcases his valour, courage, and bravery, as well as his heart-touching relationship with his girlfriend, Dimple Cheema. The film was produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and also features Kiara Advani, Shiv Panditt, Nikitin Dheer and Shataf Figar in major roles. Shershaah is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

Swatantrya Veer Savarkar

‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar,’ the directorial debut of actor Randeep Hooda, is a biopic based on the lawyer, activist and politician Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Hooda also stars in the titular role and co-wrote the script with Utkarsh Naithani. Alongside Hooda, the film features major roles played by Ankita Lokhande, Amit Sial, R. Bhakti Klein, Apinderdeep Singh, Mark Bennington, David M Harrison, Russell G Banks, and Ed Robinson. Produced by Anand Pandit Motion Pictures, the movie’s original score was composed by Mathias Duplessy and Sandesh Shandilya. ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ is available on ZEE5.

Uri: The Surgical Strike

Reportedly grossing over Rs 350 crore worldwide against a modest budget of Rs 25 crore, ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ was a major blockbuster in 2019. The military action saga is based on the events of the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army in Pak-occupied Kashmir in 2016. The fictional account revolves around the leadership of Major Vihaan Singh Shergill played by Vicky Kausha. Directed by Aditya Dha, it was produced by Ronnie Screwvala.Watch it on ZEE5.

Raazi

Writer Harinder Sikka once met an army officer who told him about his mother, the daughter of a Kashmiri businessman who was an Indian spy and married to a Pakistani officer to provide India with information during the 1971 war. This inspired Sikka to write the novel ‘Calling Sehmat,’ which later led director Meghna Gulzar to create the film, ‘Raazi.’ Featuring Alia Bhatt as Sehmat, the film portrays her journey and the tension she faces while navigating her dual roles as a loving wife and a dedicated spy. The movie also highlights her courage, patriotism and the sacrifices she makes for her country. Jaideep Ahlawat, Rajit Kapur, Shishir Sharma, Soni Razdan and Amruta Khanvilkar play significant roles in this film, produced by Vineet Jain and Karan Johar. Watch it on Prime.

Sam Bahadur

Vicky Kaushal plays the titular role in ‘Sam Bahadur’, the biopic of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the seventh Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army. Recognised as one of the most valorous officers, Manekshaw held key positions in five wars and became the first army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. Directed by Meghna Gulzar and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, the film portrays the inspiring life and wartime leadership of Sam Bahadur. The cast includes Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Bobby Arora, Monuj Borkotoky and Dhanveer Singh in prominent roles. The movie is available for streaming on ZEE5.