“At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom…,” quoted our first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and today marks 73 years of waking up to that freedom.

It’s been 73 long years of the chaos and misery suffered by all the great souls in the struggle for India’s independence. We all felt that misery through the stories we heard, the books we read, and especially through the movies that we saw about the great freedom struggle.

Yes, Indian films have been successful in instilling the notion of patriotism in each and every one of us. Whether it’s the life of a famous freedom fighter or stories of the freedom struggle, these films never fail to give you the goosebumps effect and amplify the Indian in you. Here’s a look at such patriotic Indian movies.

1. Lagaan (2001)

    

     Though the story is purely fiction, the depiction of the oppression of Indians by the “Gorey Saab” during the British Raj is one hundred percent real in Lagaan. It is interesting to see how the makers used the game of cricket to symbolize the freedom struggle. The costumes, the set, and everything were in accord with the movie’s timeline. With limited resources, how a group of Indian farmers beat the Britishers in the game of cricket to waive the heavy tax levied on them is what the movie beautifully shows.

   2. The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)

    

At an age when people typically find themselves immersed in education and jobs, this 23-year-old martyr created history. Bhagat Singh was not just a freedom fighter; he was the embodiment of youth ardently yearning for freedom. The movie The Legend of Bhagat Singh was highly successful in presenting his life to the audience.

Ajay Devgn, too, is convincing as a young, rebellious freedom fighter. The film serves as a tribute to the legendary persona and will keep alive the passion and commitment he had for the country for a hundred more years.

   3. Kaala Pani (1996)

    

      Set in 1915, Kaalapani tells the story of an Indian doctor Govardhan (played by Mohanlal), falsely accused of bombing a train. He is sent to a jail in Port Blair and subjected to extremely inhumane treatment. The film is hard to watch with all the brutalities done to the prisoners and simply tears us apart. A wife waiting for her husband’s return for more than forty-five years without knowing that he was hanged to death is just painful to watch. With an ensemble cast and excellent making, the movie bagged many awards including both State and National awards. The film is regarded as a classic in the Malayalam film industry.

    4. Uri (2019)

    

      Based on a true story, this military drama recently earned Vicky Kaushal the prestigious National Award. How the Para SF Commandos, with a rigorous process, attack and destroy the terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is truly gripping. The combat sequences are thrilling and add to the film’s entertainment. The film leaves you with goosebumps and immense respect for the Indian Army.

  5. Raazi (2018)

    

      Army, freedom fighters, and civil servants. Does that complete the list of patriotic roles? What about the Indian spies, the unsung heroes who sacrifice their lives, and their identities for the love of their country? They are mentioned nowhere and hardly remembered.  Raazi is a film based on a real-life spy who is married off to Pakistan to pass on all the valuable information she gets.

Unlike other movies, Raazi is not limited to action and thriller. It explores the emotional aspects of Sehmat as a spy- the trauma and emotional torment she goes through to protect her nation. By the end of the film, the question that hovers over the mind is, this is the story of one Sehmat, what about a hundred others in different parts of the globe risking their lives for our country??