Uri: The Surgical Strike, Shershaah, Border: 10 must-watch Indian patriotic movies that stand out as timeless classics
Indian cinema has a rich tradition of bringing powerful stories of patriotism to the screen, depicting the spirit of courage, sacrifice and love for the motherland. These films not only celebrate national pride but also remind us of the profound struggles and triumphs that shaped our country's history. Here’s a list of the 10 best Indian patriotic movies that every cinema lover should experience:
RRR
Directed by S.S. Rajamouli, this epic saga set in pre-independence India follows a fearless warrior on a perilous mission who encounters a steely cop serving the British Army.
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn
LOC: Kargil
Directed by J.P. Dutta, LOC: Kargil is based on the true events of the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan.
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan
Mangal Pandey: The Rising
Directed by Ketan Mehta, this film tells the story of Mangal Pandey, the leader of the 1857 mutiny, and his fight against British rule.
Cast: Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji, Toby Stephens
The Legend of Bhagat Singh
This 2002 film, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, chronicles the life of Bhagat Singh, a young revolutionary who led an armed resistance against British rule in India.
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Sushant Singh, D. Santosh
Border
Directed by J.P. Dutta, Border is set during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, where a small battalion of Indian soldiers defends the Longewala border against a much larger Pakistani force.
Cast: Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Akshaye Khanna
Uri: The Surgical Strike
Released in 2019, this film depicts a covert operation carried out by Indian Army special forces to avenge the killing of fellow soldiers by a terrorist group.
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Mohit Raina
Shershaah
This 2021 film, directed by Vishnuvardhan, tells the story of Captain Vikram Batra, a Param Vir Chakra awardee, whose bravery during the Kargil War in 1999 helped India secure victory.
Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani, Shiv Panditt
Chak De! India
Directed by Shimit Amin, this film follows Kabir Khan, the coach of the Indian Women's National Hockey team, as he leads his squad to triumph against all odds.
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Malvade, Sagarika Ghatge
Raazi
Released in 2018, Raazi tells the story of a Kashmiri woman who marries a Pakistani army officer to spy for India during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War.
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Rajit Kapoor
Rang De Basanti
Released in 2006, this film follows six young Indians who help an English woman make a documentary on freedom fighters, leading them to relive the forgotten saga of India's struggle for independence.
Cast: Aamir Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Siddharth