Iquis is a war film that does not identify itself with slogans and heavy action. The film portrays the truth of war peacefully and sensitively. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the film is based on the true story of 2nd Lt. Arun Kshetrapal, who made the supreme sacrifice for the country at the age of just 21 and became India’s youngest Paramvir Chakra winner. It is a war drama that makes you think more about bravery and survival than fighting.
The film’s strongest point is that it does not treat war as a spectacle. No attempt was made to incite politics or enmity. The focus of the story is what war takes away from people and how life changes afterwards. This is the reason why the film touches the heart.
Sriram Raghavan has shown the story of the film in two different timelines. The first timeline takes us to the Battle of Basantar in 1971, where young Arun Kshetpal leads his tank regiment. The fight scenes are tense, but not showy. More than combat, it depicts the responsibility, fear and adventure of a young officer.
Agastya Nanda has played the role of Arun in an honest and disciplined manner. His acting does not look fake. Arun is shown as a passionate, disciplined and idealistic young man. His bravery is seen not in his speeches, but in his decisions. There is a scene in the film, where Arun receives an order to retreat, but still decides not to leave his tank and keeps firing and this bravery makes his character immortal.
The second timeline takes us to 2001, which forms the emotional base of the film. Dharmendra here Arun’s father Brigadier M.L. is in the role of Kshetrapal. He is still living with the martyrdom of his son. He meets Brigadier Khawaja Muhammad Nasir, played by Jaideep Ahlawat. This piece is not about war, but about memories, understanding and humanity. The scenes between Dharmendra and Ahlawat are some of the film’s strongest moments. Sitting together, visiting old places and standing on the ground of Basantar and reminiscing about that war, gives depth to the film.
Ikkis is Dharmendra’s last film, and he has left an indelible mark in it with his simplicity and honesty. Dharmendra is amazing. A father who has lost his son, we see both pain and pride in his character. Her every scene looks very special and genuine. Jaideep Ahlawat’s acting is calm and impressive. Simar Bhatia is also making her debut in this film, although her screen-time is very less, but she has managed to grab everyone’s attention with her acting.
Technically, Twenty One is a very balanced film. We see tank-war for the first time in Indian cinema, the VFX and war scenes look real. Background music enhances the mood and emotion of the film. The dialogues are effective.
It will not be wrong to say about this film made under the banner of Maddock Films that Twenty One is not a story of winning a war, but a story of the price that war exacts from humans. This movie says a lot in silence and we are going to remember it all for a long time.
Director: Shriram Raghavan
Cast: Agastya Nanda, Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat, Simar Bhatia
Authors: Shriram Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, Pooja Ladha Surti
Duration: 143 minutes
Rating: 4