With Sara Ali Khan starrer ‘E Watan Mere Watan’ releasing next week, let’s take a look at some very interesting films from the same genre.
7 unconventional movies about India’s freedom struggle
For years, we weren’t ready for biopics to become a season, even though we thought they were just a seasonal feature. Over the past few years, a number of films have been made based on niche or highly popular figures from Indian history, and have become a hot topic of conversation. What exactly this film will offer is also under discussion. The conversation around agendas, propaganda, and fair presentation of stories is evident. In such a situation, there is always a movie that shines like a ray of hope. Thanks to these films, our faith in the genre lives on and we wait with bated breath for its arrival. A new movie is waiting for us next week as it gears up for release. Yes, we are talking about e watan mele watan.E-Watan Mere Watan, starring Sara Ali Khan, is a biopic about Usha Mehta, who ran a secret radio station for independence at the time. Her contribution to India’s independence was immense and the fact that a film is finally being made about her is a huge victory in itself. The trailer released on YouTube gives a glimpse into the world created by director Kanan Iyer and backed by Karan Johar. The setting of this movie feels authentic and Sarah has great acting talent around her. Next to her stars are Sparsh Srivastava and Emraan Hashmi.So, in the run-up to the release of ‘E Watan Mere Watan’ which will be released on March 21, 2024, we have created an unconventional film about Indian freedom fighters, who have a positive impact on us, and who are known for their jingoism. Let’s take a look at some far-fetched movies. , that should be the standard.Also read: ‘E Watan Mere Watan’ Trailer Review – Sara Ali Khan transforms into a freedom fighter in a visually and musically rich film
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Cast: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor, Siddharth, R. Madhavan, Soha Ali Khan. Director: Rakesh Omprakash Mehra. Streaming: Netflix.No list of films that narrate the freedom struggle in an unconventional way would be complete without mentioning Rakesh Omprakash Mehra’s masterpiece Rang De Basanti. The film is written with parallel plots of youngsters inspired by the legendary works of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. The film draws parallels between the fights for their respective causes and the films shaped as iconic incidents. The music is by AR Rahman and is one of the best albums Hindu cinema has ever witnessed.
Large (2018)
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Jaydeep Allawat. Director: Meghna Gulzar. Streaming: Prime Video.Meghna Gulzar taught all the filmmakers after her how to make films about the India-Pakistan conflict that didn’t demonize the neighboring country, but still got the point across with impact. Based on her book Calling Sehmat, Raj stars Alia Bhatt as an Indian spy who is on a mission and married to a Pakistani soldier. The film was loved for being a poetic homage to a very moving person and for simply translating a very strong script onto the screen.
Sardar Udham (2021)
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Vanita Sandhu. Director: Shoojit Sirkar. Streaming: Prime Video.The most underrated of them all is Sardar Udham, which will be one of the films you will regret not seeing on the biggest screen. A masterpiece of cinema, Shoojit His Sircar sought to tell the story of a man who encountered tragedy and chose to fight from the shadows. The film perfectly portrayed the iconic character and the way the story was presented was loved by the audience. This film will always hold a special place in the hearts of many.With OTTplay Premium subscription, you can watch 50,000+ titles, 20+ OTT and 250+ live TV channels on SonyLiv, Zee5 and Fancode for just ₹75 for the first month.
The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Sushant Singh, D. Santosh. Director: Rajkumar Santoshi. Streaming: Prime Video and YouTube The legend of Bhagat Singh has achieved legendary status over the years, and rightly so. It’s one of Rajkumar Santoshi’s rare creations and is not only an unconventional film for the industry, but also unconventional for his own filmography. Starring Ajay Devgn, the film was rather about three friends and the lives they left behind to liberate their motherland. This movie was personal and that’s what made it stand out.
Gandhi (1982)
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, John Galegood, Roshan.Director: Richard Attenborough. Streaming: JioCinema.Well, we are all fascinated by this movie that took the world by storm and even won a trophy at the Oscars. The 1982 cult classic Gandhi wasn’t exactly a Bollywood film, but it was still a well-known work of art in the country. Ben Kingsley, the country’s all-time favorite actor, played the character of Mahatma Gandhi so perfectly that he looked like a clone. Rohini Hattangadi’s performance as Kasturba is considered a master class.
Chittagong (2012)
Starring: Manoj Bajpayee, Barry John, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rajkummar Rao, Jaideep Ahlawat. Director: Bedabrata Payne. Streaming: Google Play and YouTube (rental)A movie that didn’t get the acclaim it should have. There was an ensemble that today’s filmmakers can only dream of. Prominent actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Jaideep Ahlawat have come together to make a film about the Chittagong disaster. Cinematically speaking, it is not easy to introduce this landscape in a movie, but Bedabrata Pain has taken up the challenge and provided us with a worthwhile film.
Shahid (1965)
Starring: Manoj Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, Nirupa RoyDirector: S. Ram Sharma. Streaming: Zee5.Shahid, directed by Manoj Kumar, is a film that made the rest of us walk so that we could fly. The greatest and most legendary people have come together to make a film about Bhagat Singh. It’s interesting to see how all three of his films depict the same freedom fighter from different perspectives, all of which are rewarding. This movie caused a lot of buzz at the time, so there’s no reason it shouldn’t be on this list.For more content like this and more from the world of streaming and movies, stay tuned to OTTplay.Also read: “E Watan Mere Watan”: A summary of Sara Ali Khan’s period drama filmsshare
