5 Patriotic Movies to Watch this Independence Day

Independence Day Special

15th August. As the tricolour is hoisted up high, as groups of children sing patriotic songs and as we relive the story of our independence through plays and skits, we can't help but feel utmost pride for our nation's freedom fighters and martyrs who lead our country towards freedom. 

While most of us will miss out on the opportunity to witness these beautiful acts today, we've curated a list of patriotic movies that you must watch this Independence Day!

1. Airlift

Bollywood often blurs peripheries between fiction and reality when it comes to narrating real life stories. However, Airlift is an exception with exceptional execution and no overly dramatized plots.

Airlift depicts one of the most tremendous events in the history of Indian civil aviation. The plot dates back to the year 1990 when Kuwait was invaded by Saddam Hussein's Iraqi Republican Guard. The protagonist Ranjit Katyal (Akshay Kumar) is a wealthy, politically connected entrepreneur. Katyal, with his family consisting of his wife (Nimrat Kaur) and daughter, had an option of fleeing to London during the tense situation post-invasion. But instead he chose to stay and rescue other Indian refugees in distress, against the counsel of his wife even though Katyal is not a spotless India lover as proved by his derogatory remarks for his birth place. He arranged for a refugee site and food for all the Indian refugees. The event took place in the pre-satellite era and thus holds a significant position with 488 rescue flights set for evacuation. 

As for the rest, barring a scene in which the tricolor is hoisted on the top of Amman airport, he abstains melodrama and presents an irreproachable re-enactment of the insolent rescue operation.

Airlift is a film that every Indian, and every Bollywood buff that longs for a good story telling, must watch.

2. Gold

This film, featuring actors Akshay Kumar and Mouni Roy, was released exactly two years ago. It tells us the story of India’s first Olympic gold win as an independent nation.

We all know that Akshay Kumar is known for making patriotic movies. There are so many elements in the film which have been included to evoke feelings of patriotism, like the manager of the team making all ends meet just to get the Indian hockey team to qualify for the England Olympics of 1948, and the players keeping their differences aside and playing as a team to achieve one objective - getting the 'Gold' for independent India's first Olympic hockey game. 

Since the Olympics are held in England, there are a lot of expectations from the hockey team, and we see them living up to these expectations.

Towards the end of the film we see the Indian flag waving high and the national anthem playing in the background during the award ceremony, like a cherry on the top. Certainly a proud moment for every Indian!

Watch Gold on Amazon Prime now!

3. Chak De! India

Shah Rukh Khan starrer Chak De! India is based on the real-life story of Mir Ranjan Negi, the coach of women’s hockey team of India. 

With the aim of seeing the national flag raise to new heights, the team along with their coach works day and night in order to win the women’s hockey World Cup. Against all odds and with utmost hard work, the team manages to win the finals! 

The movie highlights discrimination faced by the women players, the lack of support by the management and the society at large, while it also promotes women empowerment and nationalism. It is hard to miss out on an inspirational movie like this one!

Watch Chak De! India on Amazon Prime now!

4. Raazi 

Our next recommendation is the movie Raazi, an adaption of the book 'Calling Sehmat'. The film stars Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt in the lead. Sehmat is an undercover RAW agent, who gets married into a Pakistani family by her father to keep eye on the nation's enemy.

This is one of the few patriotic movies where the lead character is a strong and bold woman who keeps the needs of the nation before her own. 

Viewers see an interesting story line with some intense acting by the talented cast. The film is thought provoking, gripping and touching. Apart from the patriotic side of the film, viewers are also able to gauge an emotional yet beautiful father-daughter relationship as well as a husband-wife relationship between two people from enemy countries.

Sehmat balanced out the roles of an innocent daughter, a caring bride and a patriot who watches her loved ones breathe their last one after the other, as well as a proud spy who is content with her role, no matter all that she suffered.

Watch Raazi on Amazon Prime now!

5. Lakshya 

A movie that in my opinion instills more pride and patriotism in you like no other! Lakshya is a film from 2004 featuring Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta in the lead. 

Hrithik Roshan plays the character of Karan Shergill, a young and aimless man in Delhi who comes from an affluent and rich family whereas Preity Zinta plays the character of Romila Dutta, a motivated and determined woman who didn’t ever back down from standing up for what she believed in. 

In the movie, there comes a point when Karan realizes he has to find his Lakshya (objective in life) and thus decides to apply to the Indian Military Academy. After initially not being serious and disciplined, Karan decides to turn his life around and work hard towards finding his true Lakshya. He eventually finds this Lakshya when he gets posted to the 3rd battalion of the Punjab Regiment where he, along with his other comrades have to fight off Pakistani intruders to reclaim our territory. 

The best moment comes at the end of the movie when Capt. Karan Shergill, the last man standing hoists the Tiranga on Peak 5179 which had just then been recaptured. That moment makes you want to stand up from your chair and salute as if the Indian Flag were soaring high up in front of you! Truly one of the most inspiring films of this century. Watching this film will definitely instill in you that fire to want to do something for your country, and if it already exists then it will only make it burn more! 

Watch Lakshya on Netflix now!

Do give these movies a watch this Independence Day and feel the pride, honour and patriotism towards our country bubble inside of you!

- Team SYNC Snippets