Sriram Raghavan’s latest film, Ikkis, tells the poignant story of Param Vir Chakra winner Arun Khetarpal, bringing to life the courage and humanity of a young war hero barely out of his teens. Agastya Nanda portrays Arun, capturing the exuberance, bravery, and emotional depth of the young tank commander.
A Young Hero in a Turbulent Time
Set in the early 1970s, the film chronicles Arun’s journey from a spirited army trainee to a frontline tank commander during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. His character is layered: ambitious, romantic, disciplined, and ever-ready to face the perils of combat. Arun’s light-hearted relationship with Kiran (Simar Bhatia) adds a tender counterpoint to the battlefield intensity.
Raghavan’s screenplay, co-written with Pooja Ladha Surti and Arijit Biswas, balances Arun’s battlefield exploits with the aftermath of his sacrifice. Decades after Arun’s death, his father Madan (Dharmendra in his final role) travels to Pakistan, where he meets Nisar (Jaideep Ahlawat), one of the soldiers Arun faced. These sequences underscore the film’s broader plea for peace and empathy, highlighting shared humanity even across enemy lines.
A War Film Unlike Any Other
Ikkis avoids the usual jingoistic tropes of Indian war films. Instead of glorifying violence, it emphasizes discipline, courage, and moral responsibility. The climactic tank battle is thrilling, yet the film’s power lies in its quieter moments—the human stories behind uniforms, the reflections on sacrifice, and the moral weight of war.
Anil Mehta’s cinematography complements the narrative, keeping visuals grounded and realistic, while Raghavan’s direction ensures the story remains focused on empathy rather than spectacle.
Performances
- Agastya Nanda delivers a strong and heartfelt performance as Arun, convincingly portraying both youthful zeal and battlefield maturity.
- Dharmendra provides gravitas as Madan, though his scenes occasionally draw attention to his age.
- Jaideep Ahlawat offers a nuanced portrayal of Nisar, though the emotional payoff could have been sharper.
Supporting characters, including Sikandar Kher and Vivaan Shah, reinforce the film’s ethos of bravery and duty.
Strengths and Shortcomings
Ikkis excels in humanizing war, presenting its moral complexities with subtlety and compassion. However, the film’s flashback-heavy structure occasionally slows the pacing, and the focus on romantic subplots can feel overextended. Still, these are minor imperfections in a film that courageously seeks to honor a real hero while questioning the necessity of war.
Verdict
At 147 minutes, Ikkis is a moving tribute to Arun Khetarpal—a story of courage, morality, and the enduring call for peace and empathy. Raghavan’s restrained direction, combined with Nanda’s compelling lead performance, makes Ikkis a war drama that stands apart from typical Bollywood fare, delivering both heroism and reflection.
Rating: 4/5
