Some stories leave a profound impact on you. They evoke pride, bring tears to your eyes, and touch your heart. 'Ikkiis' is a film based on one such story. From beginning to end, the film has several scenes that shake you to your core, making you ponder why wars happen.
Story
This is the story of the courage and spirit of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who was martyred in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. The film presents Arun's story from the perspective of his father, Brigadier ML Khetarpal, who visits Pakistan 30 years after the war. The story is developed in such a way that you first get to know Arun, and then understand the realities of war and what the soldiers go through. The film's narrative is not limited to just war scenes; it also has many layers of emotion.
Acting
This is the film's greatest strength. The lead role is played by Amitabh Bachchan's grandson, Agastya Nanda. He has put in immense effort, from his looks to his acting. You will fall in love with him after watching the film. Akshay Kumar's niece, Simar Bhatia, makes her debut alongside Arun. In her role she has, her performance is promising. Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat keep you emotionally invested throughout the film. Several of their scenes will bring tears to your eyes. While watching Dharmendra, you feel like the film should just keep going, and you could listen to him forever. His performance clearly reflects his deep emotional connection to the film. Jaideep Ahlawat's acting never disappoints. Deepak Dobriyal and Asrani, who appear in a small scene, also leave their mark. Naseeruddin Shah's son, Vivaan Shah, and Anupam Kher's son, Sikandar Kher, also deliver excellent performances. The acting of all the other supporting cast members is also commendable. No one disappoints.
Direction
Making a film based on a story that the audience already knows is never easy. In such a situation, the director's responsibility automatically increases. Here, the direction is by a director like Sriram Raghavan, and he has handled it brilliantly. He has given equal importance to both the war sequences and the emotions, and he hasn't let the audience feel that the film was made haphazardly. The message he wants to convey about the relationship between India and Pakistan through several scenes of the film is also clearly delivered to the audience.
What's special?
The film's story is very special. It's not just the story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, but it also depicts the pain of partition, centered around him. The cinematography is excellent. Whether it's the set of Pakistan or the aerial view of the battlefield, the hard work of the production team is clearly visible. The casting is also powerful.
Music and VFX
The film uses VFX very sparingly, and where it is used, it feels necessary and appropriate. The background music is perfect. The song 'Sitare' is beautiful. 'Ban Ke Dikha Ikkis' is inspiring. The other songs are also good.
Should you watch it?
This film can be watched as a tribute to the late actor Dharmendra and the brave martyr of the country, Arun Khetarpal. You can watch it to understand the lives of soldiers. It will surely do well on OTT platforms, but you can also watch it once in the theater. If you go to watch it in the theater, be sure to read the disclaimer shown at the end of the film. If you can't watch emotional and somber films, then this is not for you.
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