Stories From The South: Regional Movies Honouring The Indian Army And Heroes

South Indian cinema, among all different regional film industries, is known for its brilliance when it comes to powerful storytelling and emotional depth. It also explores a diverse array of genres and themes. Many filmmakers from the region have honoured the stories of the Indian Armed Forces and shed light upon lesser-known acts of courage. These films have more than entertained people over the years, shedding the spotlight on heroes whose stories deserve to be told to the masses. 

Rooted in local culture and language, what sets apart these regional films is the authenticity and the intensity with which the emotional part of military life has been portrayed to the public. These stories from the South express patriotism and gratefulness for the Indian Armed Forces, whether they are based on true events or fictional narratives. So, here are the popular patriotic movies that honour Indian heroes and heroines, told through the voice of the South. 

Tamil film, Roja became an iconic film and launched A.R. Rahman's career 

Roja was a Tamil language film that was released in 1992 and starred Arvind Swamy, Madhoo and Pankaj Kapoor. The film was directed by Mani Ratnam and told the story of a simple village girl named 'Roja'. The young girl, with the help of the Indian Army, navigated the unknown terrains of Kashmir to find her husband, who was held captive by militants. 

The film was immensely loved, with all of its music scores becoming iconic tunes. The popularity of the background music and the songs made the young music composer, A.R. Rahman, a star overnight. Roja was his debut film, which launched him as an unrivalled music composer in the country. The film's pan-Indian success also made Mani Ratnam a countrywide sought-out director. After this movie, both the music composer and director went on to make some of the greatest musical hits in the history of Indian cinema. 

Malayalam film, Keerthi Chakra was based on the true events from the Kargil War 

Released in 2006, Keerthi Chakra was a Malayalam movie that starred Mohanlal as the lead 'Major Mahadevan'. The film was written and directed by Major Ravi, a retired Indian military officer who took inspiration from his personal experiences while serving in the army. The film told the story of Major Mahadevan, who, along with his team, tried to prevent a group of terrorists from succeeding in their plans. 

The film was well-received by the audience, which led to the director creating a 'Major Mahadevan' film series. Mohanlal reprised his role in all the films, with a different set of supporting cast in each of the films. Director, Major Ravi used his extensive knowledge of terrorist groups that he had gained as an Indian soldier. He wrote films that depicted the actual inner mode of workings of the militants.

Tamil film, Thuppakki  was remade and starred Akshay Kumar in the lead 

Starring, Thalapathy Vijay, Kajal Aggarwal and Vidyut Jammwal, Thuppakki was released in 2008. The movie depicted the story of an intelligence officer of the Indian Army who barely escaped a bombing carried out by a sleeper cell. After witnessing the devastation of the attack, the agent tried to track down the cell to destroy it completely. 

The film was positively acclaimed and was a commercial hit at the Box office. The success of the film led to the creation of two remakes by the same director as the original, AR Murugadoss. The movie was remade into Bengali and named Game. The Hindi remake was called Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty, and it starred Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha in the lead. 

Allu Arjun starrer, Naa Peru Surya told the story of a soldier trying to manage his anger 

The complete name of the Allu Arjun starrer film was Naa Peru Surya, Naa Illu India. Released in 2018, the movie told the story of an Indian soldier who struggled with anger issues. After being court-martialled for his behaviour, the soldier was given a last chance to fulfil his dream of serving the nation. He had to work on his anger management issue before getting reinstated in the army. 

This film was the directorial debut of writer, Vakkantham Vamsi. The film garnered mixed reactions from the public, but Allu Arjun's portrayal of a complicated personality was immensely praised. The film was a commercial hit despite the mixed reviews. The film's music was composed by Bollywood's iconic composer duo, Vishal and Shekhar. 

Telugu film, Sita Ramam told a heartfelt story of an army officer and his 'Sita'

Released in 2022, Sita Ramam was a Telugu language period drama that told the love story between 'Lieutenant Ram' and a mysterious girl named 'Sita'. The narrative of the film shifted between the love story of the two lead characters, insurgency in Kashmir and a Pakistani girl trying to find 'Sita' to deliver a letter from 'Ram'. 

The film starred Mrunal Thakur and Dulquer Salman as the lead roles. It was a major box office hit and critically acclaimed as well for the stars' performances. The emotional story-telling, visual aesthetics and soulful soundtrack were praised as well. 

Tamil film, Amaran paid tribute to a real-life Indian Army officer 

Released in 2024, Amaran was a biopic on Major Mukund Vardarajan. The story was told from the perspective of the Major's widow and her memories that unfolded the story of their life after she receives the Ashok Chakra posthumously awarded to her late husband. The film also depicted real photos of the major and a song footage shot by his wife. The commanding officer of Major Mukund also praised the film and expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in its successful making. 

The film starred actor, Sivakarthikeyan in the role of the Major. Sai Pallavi and Rahul Bose also shared the screen in the film. The name of the film meant immortal and paid tribute to the valour and sacrifice of Major Mukund Vardarajan, who was martyred in the field. The film was critically acclaimed for its gripping narrative, storytelling and cast performance. 

What are your thoughts on regional films that depict the valour of the Indian Army? Let us know. 

Also Read: Saluting Her Story: Real Female Officers And Wonder Women Who Inspired Bollywood Movies

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