Even as the film audience is enthralled with the emotive quotient of patriotism in Gadar 2, it is time to take a look at an inclusive list of ten top films with patriotism and therefore by default courage and sacrifice.
1. Anand Math: The spring field of VandeMataram – based on Bakim Chander Chatterjee’s novel. The East India Company captures Mahendra. The revolt by monks and the saga of separation with his wife tells a tale of the patriotic requirements in 1880’s. Prithviraj Kapoor, Bharat Bhushan, Pradeep Kumar (debut), Geeta Bali. A 1952 film.
2. Haqeeqat: Arguably one of our first war films. Shocked by the Great Betrayal and crumbling Nehruvian charisma, this film not only saluted the under prepared Indian soldier but also his spirit. A film that started the likes of Balraj Sahani, Dharmendra, Jayant, and soulful music of Madan Mohan. It featured the cult song: “KarChale hum fida”. Directed by Chetan Anand. A 1964 film.
3. Shaheed: If ’64 saw a Nehru centric film, the very next year saw Bollywood encash the bravery of Bhagat Singh. It turned out to be super hit, produced by Manoj Kumar and directed by Ram Sharma. This is thebest remembered Shaheed. In ’48 a Dilip-Kamini Shaheed already made news. This time over it is, “Ai Watan Ai Watan HamkoTereKasam”: A 1965 film.
4. Upkaar: A tribute to the slogan: “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”, inspired by former Premier Lal Bhadur Sastry. This Manoj Kumar, Asha Parek top grosser was embellished by the music of Kalyanji Anandji and gave Mamoj Kumar the sobriquet: Bharat. It also established him as a director. Pran changed gears and became an impactful character actor. A top grosser at the box-office and the Awards in 1967.
5. Purab Aur Paschim: How do you promote your product? Compare the worst in the competition with your best. That worked for Manoj Kumar working on brand Bharat. The East vs West, India is best, may well have started here. Kalyanji Anandji worked well again. This entrenched Manoj well and truly more importantly the brand of selling of cultural superiority had started – 1970 hit.
6. 1942 – A Love Story: Remembered as Pancham’s Swan Song, this stylised film by Vidhu Vinod Chopra captured the simmering revolt and how the British was engaged in putting down all forms of revolt. The film involved big names including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Anil Kapoor, Manisha Koirala, Jackie Shroff. The film did not do well at the box-office. 1942 did not muster enough in 1994.
7. Border: This became JP Dutta’s unnamed and almost unmanned territory. This past jingoism trait had an army of macho stars: Jackie, Sunny Deol, Sunil Shetty, Akshay Kumar, Pooja Bhatt, Kulbhushan Kharbanda. The list of artists could run into a listicle in itself. Javed Akhtar’s Ode to the Soldier: “Mere Dushman Mere Bhai” – is a masterpiece. Accepted at the box office of 1997.
8. Lagaan: This had nothing going its way. Cricket and box-office were historic enemies. The script ran for four hours. No glamour quotient. A R Rahman notwithstanding, not a script for good songs. Yet, what a film by Ashutosh Gowarikar. Aamir etched his name in the history of cinema, so legendary that he can tell Hardik Pandya that his was the first team to defeat the Englishmen!! What a start to the decade, 2001.
9. Lakshya: Cut down the heroics and examine the hardships of men who are at the frontier: “jab hum baitetegharonmeinwohjelrahe the goli”. Add the screen presence of Hrithik Roshan (crew cut and all!!) bubbly Preeti Zinta and the style quotient of FarhanAkhtar. You are left wondering why it did not work at the box-office, 2004.
10. Uri –The Surgical Strike: Into the present decade, it showcased India’s preparedness to fight military. Our patriotic narrative moved from East India Company, to the British, the system, global superiority, external enemies to now militants within. Anubhav Sinha’s Aneknot withstanding this Vicky Kaushal hit appealed to the willing mindset – 2019.
