Robin Bhuyan
Indian cinema has given us several movies showing the contribution, patriotism and valor of the Indian army. From epic tales of war to stories of personal courage and transformation, there are several movies that tries to honor the spirit of the Indian army. Here, we are going to take a look at a list of the top seven army movies of Bollywood, that have left a deep impact on Indian audiences.
Uri: The Surgical Strike
Released in 2019, with Vicky Kaushal in the lead role, Uri: The Surgical Strike had earned a lot of critical appreciation, due to its direction and cinematography. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the movie was based on real-life surgical strikes that were conducted by the Indian army against terrorist launch pads in Pakistan in 2016.
Shershaah
Based on the life of a brave officer of the Indian Army, Captain Vikram Batra, who had sacrificed his life fighting during the Kargil War, Shershah was directed by VishnuVardhan. The movie had earned a lot of appreciation for being inspiring as well as emotional. Siddharth Malhotra, who played the lead role, had given one of his career-best performances, and it makes the film an excellent tribute to the valiant soldier and his extraordinary courage.
Sam Bahadur
Directed by Meghna Gulzar, Sam Bahadur chronicles the life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, one of the most prominent military leaders in independent India’s history.
Vicky Kaushal’s performance, which was quite realistic, has gained a lot of appreciation for the film. Even senior army officials have praised the film and have appreciated it for correctly portraying the story of Sam Manekshaw.
Shaurya
Shaurya is quite different from your typical army movie. It revolves around the touchy subject of human rights violations, and also explores the dynamics of honor and duty within the Indian Army. The film is mostly a courtroom drama, and revolves around a young soldier Captain Javed Khan, who shoots his senior officer dead, leading him to face a court-martial. Although some argue that the film tries to show the Indian Army in a negative light, the film cannot be ignored, especially due to the performance of Kay Kay Menon, one of the Hindi film industry’s most underrated talents.
Major
Directed by Shashi Kiran Tikka, and with actor Adivi Sesh in the lead role, Major tells the story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a brave army officer who had given up his life fighting terrorists during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The film was hugely appreciated for its action scenes, which were mind-blowing as well as realistic.
Border
Regarded as a timeless classic, Border revolves around the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Directed by J.P. Dutta, the film is known for its epic portrayal of the Indian Army, and for telling a story with heart-wrenching emotions. Even after more than two decades, the film remains a tribute to all the Indian soldiers and their sacrifice during the war.
Lakshya
Topping our list is Lakshya, a coming-of-age story set which is set against the backdrop of the Kargil War. Directed by Farhan Akhtar, with Hrithik Roshan in the lead role, the film tells us the story of a young man Karan, living a directionless life, who eventually finds purpose and courage upon joining the Indian Army. The film unfortunately did not fare well at the box office, but two decades later, after many re-runs on television, the film is considered a masterpiece that effectively shows us the indomitable spirit of the Indian soldier. Lakshya is also considered by many to be Hrithik Roshan’s best performance till date.
There are several other army films that are quite underrated and did not receive its due. We will be coming up with another article on this topic!
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