Bollywood movies have played a vital role in shaping Indian culture, evoking a strong sense of patriotism through compelling storytelling of brave freedom fighters and soldiers who sacrificed their lives to establish India as a republic nation.
Packed with electrifying war dramas and captivating fictional narratives, Bollywood movies depicting patriotism will instill an overwhelming sense of pride in being an Indian.
On the occasion of India's 75th Republic Day, Sputnik India has put together an exhilarating list of patriotic Bollywood movies to binge-watch with your loved ones, and relive the remarkable journey of valiant freedom fighters.
URI: The Surgical Strike
Inspired by real events that took place in 2016, URI: The Surgical Strike centers on India’s decisive response to the terrorist strikes on an Army base in the Uri district of Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 19 brave Indian soldiers.
Starring Vicky Kaushal and Yami Gautam, among other talented actors, this National Award-winning film pays homage to the unwavering courage of the Indian military.
Shershaah
High on patriotic fervour, Shershaah is a biopic on Captain Vikram Batra, who lost his life in the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan.
The soldier, who received India's highest honour for valour, Param Vir Chakra, was portrayed by actor Sidharth Malhotra while actress Kiara Advani played the role of Batra's fiancée, Dimple Cheema.
The movie revolves around Batra’s journey from being a young army aspirant to becoming a soldier, his love story, and how he fought the 1999 Kargil war.
Parmanu: India’s Nuclear Triumph
The movie "Parmanu" portrays the remarkable story of India's rise as a strong nuclear power, drawing inspiration from the real events surrounding the 1998 Pokhran nuclear test.
Starring John Abraham, Boman Irani, Diana Penty, and others, Parmanu is a testament to India’s scientific prowess and determination.
Raazi
Starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, Raazi is a spy thriller movie based on a real-life story from Harinder Singh Sikka's book ‘Calling Sehmat'.
The movie revolves around a 20-year-old Indian girl, Sehmat who married a Pakistani army officer and worked as an undercover spy for India during the India-Pakistan War of 1971.
Kesari
Starring Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra, and others, Kesari is based on a true story of the Battle of Saragarhi in which an army of 21 Sikhs fought against 10,000 Afghans in 1897.
The film centres around the compelling journey of Hawaldar Ishar Singh, a courageous soldier serving in the Sikh regiment based in present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Border
One of the most-watched patriotic movies of all time, Border is based on the 1971 India-Pakistan conflict at the Battle of Longewala.
Released in 1997, this war film features an impressive ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Sunil Shetty, Akshaye Khanna, Jackie Shroff, and many more. It tells the remarkable story of the courageous Indian soldiers who valiantly defended their station against a massive Pakistani attack.
Lakshya
Based on the 1999 Kargil War, the coming-of-age war drama "Lakshya" follows the transformation of an aimless and lazy young man from Delhi, portrayed by actor Hrithik Roshan, as he joins the Indian Army and becomes a soldier.
Lagaan
Lagaan, set against the backdrop of 1893, and starring Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh in the lead roles, was India's official submission for the 2002 Oscars.
The film centers on the villagers in Central India who face the daunting task of playing a cricket match against the British in order to be exempted from burdensome taxes.