From Border to LOC Kargil: How Bollywood flicks keep India’s freedom spirit alive

Every year on Independence Day, TV channels bring back some of Bollywood’s most loved war films. These movies, from Border to LOC: Kargil, retell real events from India’s military history, reminding viewers of the courage and sacrifices that have protected the country’s freedom.

Border (1997), directed by J.P. Dutta, is one of the most popular films in this category. Based on the 1971 Battle of Longewala, it shows how just 120 Indian soldiers held their ground against a much larger enemy force. Along with its battle scenes, the film stands out for the way it shows soldiers writing letters to their families and missing home. The song Sandese Aate Hain still stirs emotions for many who hear it today.

In 2003, Dutta made LOC: Kargil, about the 1999 conflict in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir. The film follows different groups of soldiers as they fight in harsh conditions while their loved ones wait for news. Its music, including the song Seemayen Bulati Hain, added to the feeling of pride and longing that runs through the story.

Bollywood’s interest in war stories goes back even further. In 1973, Chetan Anand’s Hindustan Ki Kasam brought the Indian Air Force’s role in the 1971 war to the big screen, complete with detailed flying sequences and the patriotic song Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna. Dev Anand’s Prem Pujari (1970) told the story of a soldier caught between personal beliefs and his duty, mixing romance and patriotism in a way that appealed to audiences of the time.

These films are more than just entertainment. They help keep important moments in the country’s history alive for new generations. Even though the events are adapted for the screen, the core of the story — bravery, duty, and love for the country — remains.

On Independence Day, when these movies are shown again, they do more than fill airtime. They connect viewers to the people who stood on the frontlines, making sure the India we celebrate today could stand free.