#22YearsOfKargil: Remembering Kargil through films

It’s been over two decades since the Kargil War and the historic event continues to inspire filmmakers

One of the major Kargil-inspired films was JP Dutta’s 4-hour-15-minute multi-starrer L.O.C. Kargil

The film, which is based on the aftermath of the war, is inspired by the story of the late Captain Anuj Nayyar. Director Ashwini Chaudhary told us in 2020, “Even after 17 years, families of Army personnel get in touch with me after watching the film.”

The movie Stumped parallels the Kargil War and the 1999 Cricket World Cup. “The movie is a tribute to the unsung heroes of Kargil,” said Raveena Tandon in 2002, who produced the film as well as acted in it.

Helmed by Farhan Akhtar, the film was set against a fictionalised backdrop of the 1999 Kargil War. Remembering the film, Preity Zinta wrote, “It’s a reminder to never forget all those sacrifices and the unmatched bravery of our armed forces”

This Pankaj Kapur-directorial featured Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor in lead roles. Shahid Kapoor, who plays an IAF officer, is called on duty in the backdrop of Kargil War

Directed by Sharan Sharma, the film is based on the life of Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, who who made history during Kargil War by becoming the first Indian female Air Force officer to enter a war zone

The film is based on the life of Captain Vikram Batra. Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra and the team of the film spent the evening of Kargil Vijay Diwas with Indian Army soldiers in Ladakh’s Kargil base camp recently

Directed by Aamir Raza & Virat Husain, the play The Fifty Day War presented the true stories of sacrifice of war heroes. Actor Vikas Kumar shared pictures from the play last year on his social media and wrote, “No jingoism. No over the top sloganeering. Just true stories... Fortunate to have brought to life their heroic last moments”