Ikkis: A War Drama That Pleads for Peace, Not Provocation

• Sriram Raghavan's 'Ikkis' is a war drama set during the 1971 Battle of Basantar, offering a plea for peace rather than provocative patriotism.
• The film questions the true cost of war and challenges populist notions of 'enemy' and 'nationalism', reminiscent of 'Veer-Zaara' over typical war films.
• It tells the story of India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, Arun Khetarpal, who died at 21 in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, advocating for peace.
• The narrative spans two timelines: Arun's journey in 1971 and his father Brigadier ML Khetarpal's visit to Lahore in 2001, highlighting the personal toll of conflict.
• Raghavan avoids villainizing Pakistan or its people, instead promoting pacifism and questioning the concept of an 'enemy', making it an antidote to recent Hindi war films.

Why It Matters: Ikkis is a thoughtful anti-war film that prioritizes peace and humanity over divisive nationalism.