79th Independence Day 2025: Celebrate Independence Day with Movies on Freedom's Passion

From ‘Sam Bahadur, ’ a biopic based on the life of India’s first Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw, to 'Raazi,' a spy thriller set against the backdrop of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, Hindi cinema has produced some notable films that depict heroism and patriotism. As the country celebrates its 79th year of Independence this year, here is a curated list of films that showcase a diverse range of stories.

Explore Films Celebrating India's 79 Years of Independence

Shershaah: The biopic directed by Vishnuvardhan is based on the inspiring life of Kargil martyr Captain Vikram Batra. It stars Sidharth Malhotra in a dual role, portraying both Vikram and his identical twin brother, Vishal Batra. Hailed as a sincere tribute to the Kargil war hero, the film showcases his valor, courage, and bravery, as well as his heart-touching relationship with his girlfriend, Dimple Cheema. The film was produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and also features Kiara Advani, Shiv Panditt, Nikitin Dheer, and Shataf Figar in major roles. Shershaah is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar,’ the directorial debut of actor Randeep Hooda, is a biopic based on the lawyer, activist, and politician Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Hooda also stars in the titular role and co-wrote the script with Utkarsh Naithani. Alongside Hooda, the film features major roles played by Ankita Lokhande, Amit Sial, R. Bhakti Klein, Apinderdeep Singh, Mark Bennington, David M Harrison, Russell G Banks, and Ed Robinson. Produced by Anand Pandit Motion Pictures, the movie’s original score was composed by Mathias Duplessy and Sandesh Shandilya. ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ is available on ZEE5.

Uri: The Surgical Strike: Reportedly grossing over Rs 350 crore worldwide against a modest budget of Rs 25 crore, ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ was a major blockbuster in 2019. The military action saga is based on the events of the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army in Pak-occupied Kashmir in 2016. The fictional account revolves around the leadership of Major Vihaan Singh Shergill played by Vicky Kaushal. Directed by Aditya Dha, it was produced by Ronnie Screwvala. Watch it on ZEE5.

Raazi: Writer Harinder Sikka once met an army officer who told him about his mother, the daughter of a Kashmiri businessman who was an Indian spy and married to a Pakistani officer to provide India with information during the 1971 war. This inspired Sikka to write the novel ‘Calling Sehmat,’ which later led director Meghna Gulzar to create the film, ‘Raazi.’ Featuring Alia Bhatt as Sehmat, the film portrays her journey and the tension she faces while navigating her dual roles as a loving wife and a dedicated spy. The movie also highlights her courage, patriotism, and the sacrifices she makes for her country. Jaideep Ahlawat, Rajit Kapur, Shishir Sharma, Soni Razdan, and Amruta Khanvilkar play significant roles in this film, produced by Vineet Jain and Karan Johar. Watch it on Prime.

Sam Bahadur: Vicky Kaushal plays the titular role in ‘Sam Bahadur’, the biopic of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the seventh Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army. Recognized as one of the most valorous officers, Manekshaw held key positions in five wars and became the first army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. Directed by Meghna Gulzar and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, the film portrays the inspiring life and wartime leadership of Sam Bahadur. The cast includes Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Bobby Arora, Monuj Borkotoky and Dhanveer Singh in prominent roles. The movie is available for streaming on ZEE5.

FAQs

1. What is the film Sam Bahadur about?
Sam Bahadur is a biopic on India’s first Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw, starring Vicky Kaushal. It highlights his leadership in five wars and his historic promotion to Field Marshal.

2. Where can I watch Sam Bahadur online?
Sam Bahadur is available for streaming on ZEE5, featuring Vicky Kaushal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanya Malhotra.

3. Is Shershaah based on a true story?
Yes, Shershaah is based on the life of Kargil War hero Captain Vikram Batra, portrayed by Sidharth Malhotra, with Kiara Advani as Dimple Cheema.

4. What is Swatantrya Veer Savarkar about?
Directed and acted by Randeep Hooda, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar is a biopic on revolutionary Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and is streaming on ZEE5.

5. Why is Raazi considered a significant patriotic film?
Raazi, starring Alia Bhatt, tells the story of an Indian spy married to a Pakistani officer during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, inspired by Harinder Sikka’s book Calling Sehmat.

6. Which war is depicted in the film Uri: The Surgical Strike?
Uri portrays the 2016 Indian Army surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with Vicky Kaushal playing Major Vihaan Singh Shergill.

7. Who plays Vikram Batra in Shershaah?
Sidharth Malhotra plays both Captain Vikram Batra and his twin brother Vishal Batra in Shershaah.

8. What makes Swatantrya Veer Savarkar unique among biopics?
The film is Randeep Hooda’s directorial debut, with him also in the lead role, and it covers Savarkar’s life in depth.

9. Is Raazi based on a book?
Yes, Raazi is adapted from Harinder Sikka’s novel Calling Sehmat, which is based on real-life accounts.

10. Which OTT platforms feature these Independence-themed films?
Shershaah and Raazi are on Amazon Prime, Sam Bahadur and Swatantrya Veer Savarkar are on ZEE5, and Uri is also available on ZEE5.

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