Ikkis

Ikkis tells the story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, one of India's youngest Param Vir Chakra recipients, by shifting between the battlefield and quieter domestic memory. The film follows Arun during the 1971 Battle of Basantar, showing his training, courage under fire, and the choices that shape a young officer in combat. Alongside those frontline scenes, the narrative is carried by Arun's father as he returns decades later to his ancestral town of Sargodha and to the old school where his son once studied, now across a national border. That return trip frames a sober reflection on loss, duty, and how nations remember sacrifice without romanticizing war.

Directed by Sriram Raghavan and released in 2026, Ikkis was developed by Pooja Ladha Surti, Arijit Biswas, and Amitabh Bhattacharya. The script is grounded in the historical events of the 1971 war and leans on archival records and family memories for authenticity. The cast includes Dharmendra as Brig. Madan Lal Khetarpal, Jaideep Ahlawat, Agastya Nanda, Simar Bhatia, and Suhasini Mulay.

No widely reported box office totals are available at this time, so commercial performance is not a primary lens for judging the film's reach. Early responses focused on its subject matter and performances rather than blockbuster numbers, and box office reporting has been limited.

Since its release, Ikkis has prompted renewed public interest in Arun Khetarpal's life and the specific battles of 1971, especially among younger viewers unfamiliar with that history. Conversations on social media and in veteran circles have centered on how personal grief and national memory interact, and the movie has been used in some remembrance events to highlight lesser known wartime stories.

Critical reaction has been mixed to positive, with viewers praising the lead performances and the film's restrained tone while debating its pacing and balance between battlefield action and family drama. Reviews note that the film addresses themes of heroism, grief, and the futility of conflict, aiming for a sober account rather than a celebratory war picture.