10 Movies to Watch on Independence Day

With 15th August approaching, patriotism is at an all-time high with everyone remembering the great sacrifices endured by the Freedom Fighters to give us the Freedom we take for granted. We’ve come up with the perfect way to remember these heroes from the comfort of your very own couch! Re-live those moments through a movie marathon, watching the movie list we have curated especially for you!

Junoon

A 1978 movie directed by Shyam Benegal and produced by Shashi Kapoor, Junoon is known to be one of the best patriotic movies ever made. The movie is based on the fictional story, “A Flight of Pigeons” written by Ruskin Bond. The movie theme revolves around the Indian Mutiny of 1857 showing the how the lives of people were upturned and entangled during the fight.

1942 - A Love Story

Released in 1994, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s ‘1942 – A Love Story’ is an Indian Patriotic Love story starring Anil Kapoor, Manisha Koirala, Jackie Shroff, Anupam Kher and Danny Denzongpa. The movie was a huge hit and has received 14 nominations at the Film fare Awards, winning 9 out of them. The movie is set in 1942, during the period in which the British Rule was coming to an end. The movie beautifully depicts a love story that brewed amongst all the tension in the country at that time.

Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India

A movie that has been watched by every Indian at least once in their life, Lagaan is one of the greatest patriotic movies ever made. The story is set in the Victorian Period of British Raj in India. The story is set in a small village in India, whose inhabitants have been burdened by exorbitant taxes and find themselves in a highly unusual situation when an arrogant British Officer dares them to a game of Cricket. The result of the game would decide whether the taxes would be abated (if the Villagers won) or whether they would increase (if the villagers lost). The movie beautifully depicts the struggle of the villagers to learn an alien game, compete with people who have played it all lifelong with their future hanging in consequence.

The Legend Of Bhagat Singh

Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’ is a historical biographical movie based on the life of Bhagat Singh. The movie, which was released in 2002, has received eight film fare nominations, winning three out of them.

Mother India

Mehboob Khan’s ‘Mother India’ was released in 1957 and has become a cultural classic. It is regarded as one of the best films in not only Indian Cinema, but also in World Cinema. The movie won the All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film and the Film fare Best Film Award for 1957. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, becoming the first Indian film to be ever nominated. The story is a remake of Khan’s earlier movie, ‘Aurat’ which was released in 1940. The theme of the story revolves around a poverty-stricken woman, who finding herself without husband, endures many struggles and harsh realities of society to raise her sons. Despite her struggle, she sets a goddess-like example of the ideal, moral Indian woman. Metaphorically, the movie’s theme can be seen to represent India as a nation in the aftermath of independence, and alludes to a strong sense of nationalism and nation-building.

Mangal Pandey: The Rising

A movie that took the box-office by storm upon its release, ‘Mangal Pandey The Uprising’ went on to become the fourth highest – grossing film of 2005 domestically, and was even screened at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. ‘Mangal Pandey The Rising’ is a historical biographical movie based on the life of Mangal Pandey, an Indian soldier who played a significant role in the rebellion of 1857.

Gandhi

Gandhi is the biographical movie of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi i.e. the Father of the Nation. ‘Gandhi’ was directed in Hollywood and released in 1982. The movie covers all the major events of his life from his South Africa stint, non-violent movement to his assassination by Nathuram Godse. The movie went on to win eight Oscars that year.

Shaheed

Helmed by S. Ram Sharma, ‘Shaheed’ was released in 1965 and is based on the true story of Bhagat Singh. The film has won several accolades and starred great stalwarts of that era. The movie displays the struggles of our freedom fighters beautifully.

Haqeeqat

Directed by Chetan Anand, ‘Haqeeqat’ was the first movie that was based on the India-China war. It was released in 1964. The theme of the movie revolves around the Indian soldiers’ fight against the Chinese army which took place in Ladakh. The song 'Ab Tumhaare Hawaale Vatan Saathiyo' which is still played on Independence Day and Republic Day was taken from this movie.

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey

Ashutosh Gowarikar’s ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ is a patriotic film based on the Chittagong Uprising against the British rule in 1930. The movie is based on a story of school going children who plan attacks on the British feudal lords without their parent's knowledge.