Border 2 OTT Release, Facts Vs Figures, Minefied Bravery Erased, All About Real Battle Of Basantar

Border 2 is a film which is made in continuation of Border, which was a blockbuster film. Every time we think of a great army film, it comes first. The songs were top-notch and still etched in our memories. On the other hand, Border 2 will have to work hard to make a place in every Indian viewer's mind. Read on as we share if the film is based on reality or fiction.

The Battle of Basantar was a tank battle, Border 2 erases the fact

The Battle of Basantar was the toughest battle India fought against Pakistan in 1971. The film didn't do complete justice to it. If we look back at history, it was a war with tanks, artillery, engineers, and coordination with arms. India fought Pakistan with the Centurion tank, which was the workhorse of the Indian army, and Vijayanta tanks, which were India's very own produced main battle tanks. 

On the other hand, Pakistan had heavily equipped American-supplied M47 and M48 Patton tanks. After 1965, the Patton tanks were no longer just hardware, it was well-equiped and hard to defeat. It was believed that Pattons can dominate any battlefield. However, India shattered the belief in their defence forces' bravery and zeal. 

Truth behind Patton's graveyard

For the unversed, Patton Graveyard was reoriginated at the Battle of Basantar in 1971, as it reported the mass destruction of Pakistan's American-made M47 and M48 tanks by the Indian armed forces. It was fought in the Shakargarh sector, and Indian won it. Over 60-66 enemy tanks were destroyed in the region. It was the biggest tank battle. The tank, which was considered unbeatable in the war zone, Indians soldiers turned it into a mere metal scrap. 

Minefield bravery erased in Border 2

One thing which Border 2 wasn't able to portray correctly is that it depicted Indian soldiers planting the mines. In reality, the minefields were laid by the Pakistani army. In fact, Indian engineers had worked to clear those mines under intense enemy fire to allow their force to move forward. It was the most dangerous yet the most courageous movement of the war. 

However, the film stole the collective courage of engineers, infantry and armour working together; instead, they preferred showing the single hero's bravery to highlight, as Indian cinema is obsessed with hero worship. And the film, which is made to bring back the love for the nation, is no exception. 

Border 2 got the wrong tank from the wrong war

The tactic of drawing Pakistani Patton tanks into a trap was a scheme used during the Battle of Asal Uttar in 1965, and not Basantar. But by showing the wrong information and using it in the 1971 war setting, it loses the genuineness of the film. It is a way of playing with the facts and figures. The Basantar War was all about mine-clearing, night river crossings and armoured counterattacks, and not the warzone shown in the movie.

Truth behind Major Hosihar's movement during the war

The film shows 'Major Hosiar' played by Varun Dhawan leading the men across open terrain in daylight. However, it never happened as it would have been a massacre and not bravery. The reality of the Indian Army is different; it does not make decisions in haste. In reality, it was a night strike around 10 p.m. on December 15, 1971. They crossed the river in darkness and prepared for the attack. It was a professional movement and not just cinematic suspense. 

What do you think about Border 2 after watching it on Netflix? 

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