Sriram Raghavan’s ‘Ikkis’ breaks the war-film formula, choosing restraint over jingoism

Filmmaker Sriram Raghavan released ‘Ikkis’, a war drama based on Second Lt Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee.

• Why it matters now: At a time when Hindi war films lean heavily on aggressive nationalism, ‘Ikkis’ deliberately takes a quieter, more reflective route.

• What changes for audiences: Viewers get a human-centered portrayal of war, focusing on sacrifice and moral courage rather than chest-thumping spectacle.

• Who is affected: Cinema audiences, critics, and the Hindi film industry, especially filmmakers navigating the balance between patriotism and propaganda.

In an era dominated by loud, slogan-driven war movies, Sriram Raghavan’s ‘Ikkis’ arrives as a rare act of cinematic restraint. The film, rooted in the life and sacrifice of Second Lt Arun Khetarpal, who died during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, refuses to weaponise nationalism for applause.

Instead, it tells a deeply personal story of duty, fear, and courage without turning conflict into spectacle.

A war film that resists noise

Over the last decade, Bollywood’s war genre has increasingly equated patriotism with volume. Raghavan moves decisively in the opposite direction. ‘Ikkis’ avoids exaggerated heroics and political messaging, choosing to portray its protagonist as a young officer shaped by conviction rather than bravado.

The emotional impact comes not from orchestrated outrage, but from quiet moments of loss and resolve, making the experience unexpectedly moving.

Trusting the audience’s intelligence

Industry observers note that Raghavan’s approach reflects a filmmaker confident enough to ignore box-office formulas. Unlike recent war films designed to provoke instant nationalistic fervour, ‘Ikkis’ trusts viewers to engage with complexity.

The film does not shout its patriotism; it earns it through character and consequence.

Reclaiming the idea of sacrifice

By focusing on Arun Khetarpal’s military service and final battle, the film re-centres attention on what sacrifice actually means. There are no caricatured enemies or simplified moral binaries. War is shown as tragic, necessary, and deeply human.

Critics say this choice restores dignity to a genre that has often reduced soldiers to symbols rather than individuals.

Why this film stands out now

‘Ikkis’ lands at a moment when audiences are beginning to question formulaic nationalism in mainstream cinema. With fatigue setting in around predictable war narratives, the film’s reception suggests there is space for stories that respect both history and intelligence.

Cultural commentators see it as part of a slow shift toward more reflective patriotic storytelling, where emotion is rooted in empathy rather than anger.