Akshay Kumar in ‘Kesari’ based on the Battle of Saragarhi and the exceptional bravery of 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian ArmyThe role of cinema in triggering change, documenting reforms, good work and capturing the lives and contributions of trailblazing individuals and reformers cannot be understated. Since the very beginning of cinema, filmmakers have strived to make films that showcase the lives of social reformers, change-makers and patriotic protagonists.
Nationalism, as a theme, has always lured filmmakers and drawn crowds to the cinema halls. A film on a soldier trying to save the country from a foreign enemy or a spy who risks his life to ensure his countrymen stay safe is a hit theme. Recently, Indian cinema, both Hindi-language and regional languages, has seen a surge in the release of films that focus on ‘unsung’ freedom fighters and on incidents and battles for the freedom of the nation.
Interestingly, such films have been received very well by the audiences and now, with the massive reach of OTT in everyone’s mobiles, if not homes, the viewership of such films has increased multi-fold. This has encouraged more producers and creators to create content, web series, documentaries and films along the same lines
Bollywood on patriotic bandwagon
Actor Akshay Kumar’s Kesari that was released on Holi in 2019 is based on the Battle of Saragarhi and the exceptional bravery of 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army. Akshay plays the role of Havildar Ishar Singh in the film based on the act of valour of the 36 Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army against the Pathans.
The Battle of Saragarhi was one of the greatest last stands in military history where 21 Sikh soldiers held fort against more than 10,000 Pashtun tribesmen for over six hours. The battle took place at Saragarhi – a tiny, non-descript village in what was then the North-West Frontier Province – near present day Pakistan Afghanistan border, a few hours outside Peshawa Similarly, Vicky Kaushal starrer Sardar Udham, released
in 2021, is a Hindi-language biographical historical drama film directed by Shoojit Sircar based on the life of a freedom fighter from Punjab, Udham Singh. He assassinated Michael O’Dwyer, the former lieutenant governor of Punjab, in London to avenge the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar. Another film
named Shaheed Udham Singh was released in 2000 and depicted the life of Udham Singh. The film’s cast included Raj Babbar, Gurdas Mann, Amrish Puri and Barry John.
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi that was released in 2019 with Kangana Ranaut playing the lead role of the Queen of Jhansi depicts the life of Rani of Jhansi Laxmibai and tells the story of her mutiny against the British rule. In a short span of time, Laxmibai, the queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi became one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and a symbol of the Indian resistance to the British rule.
Other films such as Sardar (1993) starring Paresh Rawal, Mangal Pandey – The Rising (2005) starring Amir Khan, The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002) starring Ajay Devgn, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004) depicted the lives of freedom fighters Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Indian soldier Mangal Pandey, revolutionary Bhagat Singh, leader Subhas Chandra Bose, respectively.
Regional films and unsung heroes
One of the latest releases, S S Rajamouli’s RRR has set a new record in the streaming business. After breaking all records of theatrical releases, RRR also set new ones on OTT. Released in March 2022, RRR in not only one of the most successful Indian films of 2022 but one of the biggest grossers worldwide also, after minting over Rs 1,200 crore at the box office worldwide. Netflix also recently announced that the Hindi version of the film has become ‘the most popular film from India’ on the streamer globally with more than 45 million viewing hours across the world.
The film depicts a pre-Independence story woven around two real Indian revolutionaries in the 1920s – Alluri Sitarama Raju played by Ram Charan and Komaram Bheem played by N T Rama Rao Jr – and their fight against the British colonial rule.
Born in 1897 in present-day Andhra Pradesh, Alluri Sitarama Raju was an Indian revolutionary who waged an armed campaign against the British rule. He became involved in opposing the British in response to the 1882 Madras Forest Act restricting free movement of the tribals or the adivasis in their forest habitats and prevented them from practicing a traditional form of agriculture known as podu. Raju formed an army of adivasis and farmers and resisted the British by engaging in guerrilla tactics in the border areas of East Godavari, Visakhapatnam of the Madras Presidency.
Komaram Bheem, on the other hand, was a revolutionary leader and a Gond tribal in Hyderabad State of British India. He rebelled against the British and the feudal Nizams of Hyderabad during the 1930s that resulted in the Telangana Rebellion of 1946. He was killed in 1940 by armed policemen and today is part of Adivasi and Telugu folklore as a symbol of rebellion.
Another South Indian film, Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy is a 2019 Telugu-language historical action film directed by Surender Reddy and produced by Ram Charan. The film is inspired by the life of independence activist Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy from the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh and stars Chiranjeevi in the titular role.
Vicky Kaushal in Sardar Uddham
Freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy was born in Rupanagudi village in 1806. He was the son of a former Telugu Palegaadu (a feudal title) Mallareddy and Seethamma and belonged to the Motati Clan of Reddy’s. Reddy along with Vadde Obanna, his commander-in-chief, were the frontrunner of the freedom movement against the East India Company rule in India in 1847. As part of this, 5,000 Indian peasants revolted against the Company in Nandyal district.
The new rules that the Company brought in that changed the traditional agrarian system triggered the protests. These changes primarily included the introduction of the ryotwari system. Others included implementing working conditions that were discriminatory and exploitative especially to the smaller farmer and cultivator. The revolt finally ended with Reddy’s death.
Film festival on patriotic films
In August 2021, the Films Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting celebrated the Independence Day with a three-day Film Festival that showcased the best of Indian patriotic films through a package of 20 documentary films on freedom struggle and freedom fighters. The film festival was also screened on Films Division website and YouTube channel. The festival was organised as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – a unique initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.
India achieved freedom after the selfless sacrifices of thousands of revolutionaries and freedom fighters. The festival showcased films that were biopics of leaders such as Subhas Chandra Bose, Chandrashekhar Azad, Birsa Munda, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaq Ulla Khan, Baba Shahmal Jat, Dr Gopinath Bordoloi, Bagha Jatin, Matangini Hazra, Bankimchandra and a film dedicated to another set of unknown freedom fighters including Hanawant Sahai, Pandit Jayanandan Jha, Siva Gurunathan, Shantaram Vakil and Marimuthu Chettiar.
Additionally, select documentaries that highlighted important landmarks in the independence movement were also screened. These included films on India’s first war of independence in 1857, the dawn of the Gandhian era, a call for Purna Swaraj, the Salt March and on the merger of the princely states post-independence.