Cinema has always served as an impactful medium through which events of cultural and historical significance are brought to the masses. The Indo-Pak wars have been such events that have been revisited through Bollywood films many times. The tensions, sacrifices and struggles have inspired films for decades. Many Indian filmmakers have crafted stories based on shocking true events that took place during the wars.
Unsung heroes who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country were finally given the recognition that they deserved after films depicting their struggles were made. Indian war films have also been successful in bringing the lesser-known side of these wars to the public. So, here are some of the best Indo-Pak war movies that are based on true stories.
Border told the story of 120 soldiers during the Indo-Pak War of 1971
Written, directed and produced by J.P Dutta, Border was released in 1997. The film told the story of the ‘Battle of Longewala’ that took place in 1971, during the Indo-Pak War. In the film, 120 Indian soldiers engaged in a fierce battle with the Pakistani side to defend their border post of Longewala in the Thar desert. Though the main premise of the story was based on one night of battle between both sides, the film dived deep into the backstories of all the main leads. These backstories featured family members, lovers and past struggles of the soldiers fighting in the battle, depicting an old mother, a newly-wed wife and a waiting fiancee. This helped the viewers to connect with the main leads emotionally.