Independence Day is just not about gaiety and fanfare. It is also about an emotion, the emotion of living in a free India where on most occasions one can voice their opinions fearlessly. But this day would not have existed in the annals of Indian history had it not been for the supreme sacrifice of a large number of freedom fighters. They laid down their lives to end the British Raj. Many movies have been made about these ‘Shahids’. But here’s a list of must-watch movies on Independence Day – films that certainly will give you goosebumps.
Gandhi (1982): The film which was released in 1982 had Ben Kingsley playing the lead role as Mahatma Gandhi. It portrays Gandhi’s contribution in the struggle for freedom and his emphasis on equality. The movie goes in depth into the life of Mahatma Gandhi and ends with his assassination in 1948. It is a vivid description of a simple man who became a legend in his life time.
Rang De Basanti (2006): This Aamir Khan-starrer was a huge success at the box office. The film shows the transformation of a group of easy-going individuals into passionate patriots after the death of their friend, Flight Lt Ajay Rathod. The story is about a British filmmaker who casts a group of friends to make a documentary on Indian freedom fighters based on the diary given to her by her grandfather. But then the friends turn patriotic individuals and lose their lives in the process. The film also stars Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor and Atul Kulkarni.
The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002): This historical drama has Ajay Devgn portraying the role of Bhagat Singh. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the film delves on the Indian freedom movement and the supreme sacrifice that Bhagat Singh made for an Independent India. The film chronicles Bhagat Singh’s life from his childhood when he witnesses the Jallianwala Bagh massacre until the day he was hanged to death— March 23, 1931. Ajay Devgn’s makeover and acting is certain to completely overwhelm the watcher. His intense eyes, minutes before he is hanged, is something that will linger in the mind for long.
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019): Kangana Ranaut plays the lead role in this biopic about Rani Lakshmi Bai, a fearless woman who was not ready to throw down the gauntlet. The movie depicts how she fought against the British army against all odds and resisted them fearlessly.
So what you are waiting for if you are spending a lazy 73rd Independence Day? Just download the movies and start watching. It will certainly provide you with a lot of information about India’s freedom struggle.
PNN & Agencies