From Swades to Major: A look at awe-inspiring patriotic films of Bollywood
This Independence Day, witness stories of sacrifice and rebellion which will hook you to the screen with power-packed performances and interesting plotlines of these Bollywood movies.
From Swades to Major: Bollywood films that evoke a sense of patriotism
Bollywood films are filled with awe-inspiring moments and emotions that portray complex human relationships. Army and sacrifice is one such subject where our Hindi films have excelled with narration and different plotlines. From portraying the sacrifice of our young soldiers on the border to telling the story of Mohan, a NASA engineer who gives up his comforting life in the US and works at the grassroots level in India, there are a plethora of such patriotic movies. Here is a list of eight such movies that you must watch this Independence Day.
1/8
Major
Major is a 2022 biographical action drama based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan who died in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. It is not just a movie based on the army but a biographical action thriller that takes one on a roller coaster ride introducing Sandeep and the sacrifices that he made. The movie reminds us that it could be any martyr who gets killed in the war zone. The story is not just about Sandeep. It talks about every emotion and hurdle that one goes through to become an army person.It is emotional, thrilling and dramatic - everything that is needed to make a movie a big Bollywood success. The film also features Prakash Raj, Saiee Manjrekar and Shobhita Dhulipla among others in supporting roles. You must watch it this Independence day to get a boost of patriotism within you and live the life of a soldier who can even die for his country. It is available on Netflix.,
2/8
Border
The 1997 cult classic Border features a multi-star cast in lead roles. It was a blockbuster hit and is still loved and adored by Indian cinephiles because of the patriotism that it evokes within its audience. Set during the Pakistan War of 1971, it is a real-life adaptation of the Battle of Longewala.Songs of the film like ‘Sandese Aate Hai’ are still remembered by the audience with Sonu Nigam’s melodious voice and the beautiful composition by Anu Malik. The action thriller was a dream project of its director J.P Dutta and took two complete years for him to produce it., ,The film follows different plotlines of the soldiers and gives us a glimpse of every individual's sacrifice. Excellent narration and beautiful direction make it a must-watch for all Indians and cinephiles all over the world. The climax is heart-wrenching and will leave a mark on your conscience. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.,
3/8
Shershaah
“There is no greater honor than being a soldier.” This movie thoroughly captures the emotion of patriotism. Shershaah is Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani’s 2021 blockbuster based on the real-life story of Captain Viram Batra. The story revolves around his life, him coming into age, entering the army and fighting for the pride of his nation. A soldier that can live and die for the sake of his country’s pride is what explains Captain Vikram Batra in true essence. He talked, dreamt and lived for the army.Kiara Advani plays his romantic interest Dimple. She rebels against Vikram’s decision to join the army but later surrenders. The power-packed performances and emotional plotline of the film will take you on a roller coaster ride and hook you to your screens. The climax is gut-wrenching and beautifully portrayed in the backdrop of the song Mann Bharyaa 2.0. This must watch is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.,
4/8
Uri
Uri is a story about the events that took place during the 2015 Uri attacks and “How’s the Josh,” became a very famous phrase during the time. Vicky Kaushal is flawless in his performance and completely fits in the role. The film provided him the much-deserved recognition. The film also features Yami Gautam, Kriti Kulhari and Mohit Raina among others in the supporting cast. Uri honors the sacrifices that our soldiers make for the sake of our safety. A must-watch this Independence Day, this film is currently streaming on Zee5.
5/8
Lakshya
The Farhan Akhtar-directed movie was released in 2004 and features Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta in lead roles. The coming-of-age story is about finding oneself and a purpose in life. Karan, played by Hrithik, breaks away from the shackles of his own laziness and decides to join the Indian army. He gets selected but does not enjoy that life. He is reluctant and thus, faces severe punishments in the academy. In the process, he ruins his relationships with his family and friends. But he soon finds himself and a purpose in life which is to serve the army and hence, his nation.Shankar Ehsaan Loy's soundtrack is still remembered for its melodious songs like Kitni Baatein and Lakshya theme song. A must-watch to witness a story about finding ambition and purpose in life. The interesting plotline will not disappoint you and will surely leave an impact on your psyche. The movie is available on Amazon Prime Video.,
6/8
Raazi
The story is about Sehmat, an innocent college student who goes on to become an undercover spy in Pakistan for the sake of her country. Alia Bhatt as Sehmat plays the lead role in the film who goes through an emotional and physical hassle to reach her goal. She encounters love and dangerous situations in the process but nothing can budge her away from her goal.The film showcases brilliant performances by Alia Bhatt, Jaideep Ahlawat, Vicky Kaushal, Rajat Kapoor and Soni Razdan. A power-packed film that evokes a sense of courage and patriotism in you for your country. The Meghna Gulzar-directed film is a must-watch and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.,
7/8
Swades
Ashutosh Gowariker-directed 2004 released film features Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role. Though the film was not a box office hit at the time, it has become a cult classic over the years. It is Shah Rukh’s finest work and the actor has played the part with utmost conviction. He has portrayed the subtle nuances of his character on screen.It is a social commentary on the rural realities that are fixated on caste and backward-looking attitudes. He stays in the village to take back his Kaveri amma and in the process, tries his best to mend the orthodox mindset of these people. You must watch this film to witness rural India and the problems that one goes through while making a change. The movie is currently streaming on Netflix.,
8/8
Rang De Basanti
The film that won four National Awards, Rang De Basanti is a cult classic. The coming-of-age film is about friendships, relationships and sacrifice. The 2006 released film is written and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. It stars Aamir Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Siddharth, R. Madhavan, Atul Kulkarni, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor and Alice Patten in lead roles.The 2006 blockbuster drama is a story about a British student who comes to India to make a movie about India’s freedom struggle. The inspiring journey that these college students go through while shooting for the film makes them fight corruption and their own government. The climax scene is inspiring and evokes in the audience a sense of rebellion, to fight injustice and seek justice.,