“Ikkis”: A saga of courage and grace under fire.

By Kavita A Chhibber

I went to see #Ikkis last night. It is based on the 1971 Indo Pak war. And because of my father Major General RN Chibber was in that war.

Yesterday, during the day my sister Kalyani (who is in Jammu at my parents’ home) found a piece of paper which I’m sharing here.

Ikkis became an even more profound experience as a result of that. A saga of courage and grace under fire.

This is a film review, only about Ikkis. Please keep that in mind. It is not a discussion on the brutality of wars, or who is right or wrong. Or written with naivete of any kind. My father was in all the wars. He was in his twenties in 1962. His older brother was a Prisoner of war in World War 2. Not knowing if his eldest son was alive took its toll on my grandfather who passed away when my Dad was only 8. My uncle returned home, but his father, who was also a military officer, was gone.

Film is an impactful visual medium that evokes emotions, just like gpod books do. Each one of us will react, according to our own life experiences. And there is so much more to wars. They leave permanent wounds, both physical and psychological that often time cannot erase. Cruelties that we are seeing even today in different parts of the world are heart breaking.

But slivers of kindness are always welcome in every walk of life. This film is one such sliver.

I’m seeing some knee jerk reactions from a handful of people who , it is obvious have not seen the film. This post is long. Please take your time to read it properly or just ignore it, if you can’t.

Dad commanded 8 Jat regiment. His strategy single handedly saved Poonch in what seemed to be a losing battle, until Dad was brought in. The 8 Jat regiment under Dad’s able leadership and his strategic planning, turned the tables. The regiment came to be known as the Savior of Poonch, and the “The Gallant Eight.”

I remember the 1971 war vividly, because I was old enough to know there was danger, and destruction, but too young then to understand the sacrifices army soldiers, their families make, on both sides of any border globally.

Hindustan, once a land of abundance where people of all religions lived together in harmony, became divided by the egos of a handful of leaders.

It was only as a grown up that I realized why my father always said there are no winners in war. Only losers. And why I never saw him gloating or happy afterwards.

Throughout the years, my grandmothers, my uncles, my father never stopped telling the stories of the many acts of kindness that were extended to them during their departure to Amritsar and even after partition from their Pakistani counterparts, employees, loving friends..

I went to also see the movie for Second Lt Arun Khetrapal. His name became legend as did the story of his father Brigadier Madan Lal Khetrapal who was invited to visit Pakistan after thirty years of losing his 21 year old son in 1971 – one day before the ceasefire that happened on 17th December, which ironically happened to be my sister’s birthday.

Arun became among the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military award for extraordinary courage during war. It was awarded to him posthumously

I also went to see Ikkis for #dharamendra . Not just me, but many of my friends found similarities in my Dad and Dharam ji. Especially the good looks.

My sister also quipped recently, “And both had one more thing in common. They didn’t get their incredible poetry published in their lifetime!” True.

And I went to see Ikkis for the director #SriramRaghavan whose previous films Badlapur and Andhadhun, I loved.

I get very emotional when I see war movies, being part of a military family on both sides.

Especially the senseless ones with weak story lines, glorifying excessive violence and playing the blame game, demonizing the other side. The stories I heard, and what I personally experienced, were never as black and white.

Ikkis was such a refreshing breath of fresh air. Because it told a story of loyalty, patriotism, courage, love, heartbreak, acceptance of some difficult truths with grace on both sides of the border.

No Pakistan-bashing, no sugar coating of the reality of war to make one side look better than the other.

Ikkis chose to delve into the grim consequences of war on lives, both young and old on both sides.And how one man chose grace and acceptance over the poison of bitterness and anger.

The story weaves an intricate fabric of the past with the present, taking us to Pakistan, where Arun’s father visits Lahore 30 years after his son laid down his life, fighting heroically till the very end.

There is also the joy of visiting his childhood hometown of Sargodha, mingled with the sorrowful anticipation of perhaps finding closure and more information about the final hours of his son’s life.

There is hope that he would be able to visit that spot where his son destroyed ten Pakistani tanks, before a shell fired from one of them claimed his life.

Brigadier Khetrapal is hosted by Brigadier Jaan Mohammed Nisar at his home for the three days he is there.

He gets to visit his hometown of Sargodha and finds out the truth about his son’s last few hours.

Brigadier Khetrapal is stunned to hear the truth but as an army officer, he understands why sacrifices have to be made with acceptance and not anger and bitterness when you fight for your country.

There are some deeply moving conversations, and moments of love and laughter, of fierce pride, angst, even as the grim realities of war reverberate through grenades, gunfire, and air strikes continuously in the backdrop.

Off the field of any kind, sports or war, I’ve experienced first hand, the love, friendship and respect people from India and Pakistan accord each other.

A couple of Pakistani officers and other friends mentioned the Kargil war and how the Indian army sent the Pakistani soldiers who had lost their lives off with proper rituals.

Just as Brigadier Nasir told Brigadier Khetrapal, how brave his son was and how instrumental in the Pakistani defeat, I also recall reading that Capt. Karnal Sher Khan of Pakistan, was awarded the Nishan-E Haider, Pakistan’s equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, partly due to a letter written to the Pakistani authorities by Brigadier MPS Bajwa, who witnessed Capt Khan’s bravery first hand.

Dharmendra Deol as Arun Khetrapal’s father was raw, real, and eternally charming. There is an honesty in his eyes, his words, the verses he wrote and spoke that moved me deeply. It was Dharam ji’s last performance. It will also be a lasting one.

#JaideepAhlawat as Brigadier Nasir, stole every scene. Ajit and I are huge fans. Dharam ji and he are so good together, you cannot take your eyes off them.

I need to mention #Sikanderkher, as Risaldar Sagat Singh. In the film he never tires of giving young Arun a sassy life lesson or two. He can do that in real life, in acting to quite a few fellow actors as well.

Sikander is outstanding as always. I can only pray, he gets the kind of meaty roles he deserves. He is truly a stellar actor, who hasn’t received his due.

I liked Agatsya Nanda in The Archies, and he was just as endearing as Arun Khetrapal in Ikkis. He has the expressive Bachchan eyes and potential. I think he is here to stay.

Simar Bhatia, Akshay Kumar’s niece who made her debut with Ikkis, should have found a different vehicle for her launch.

She plays Arun’s love interest. According to what I remember there was none in real life. And that role was totally dispensable. It didn’t do much to enhance the film or showcase her acting capabilities. Hopefully, we will see more of her in roles that are longer and with greater depth. I dont see too many women oriented roles even now except on OTT.

#DeepakDobriyal another stellar actor had a brief cameo, but one that left an impact.

He plays an embittered Pakistani soldier, who having lost his leg in the war, is livid at the warm reception being given in his home town to an Indian. The anger turns to shock, pain and empathy as he discovers that he merely lost a leg, but the man he was berating lost his 21 year old son. The embrace in the end is so moving I doubt anyone would remain dry eyed. I wasn’t.

The film has just arrived in theaters so I won’t say much more. I took six handkerchiefs, fully prepared, and soaked each one, while my poor husband held my hand and listened to my anguish at the inhumanity of the world after we came out.

Dharam ji talks about war, its horrific consequences and asks “When will all this stop?” And then softly answers the question himself and says, “It will stop, when WE stop”.

Off the sets Dharam ji said he hoped both countries will watch this film. I hope that too.

I also hope this film receives the love it deserves and through it, every soldier who has laid down his life, in the line of duty.

These Bravehearts and their families deserve that much.