Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 2: Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis is not just another war film built on bravado and battlefield heroics. Instead, it is a sensitive, deeply human portrayal of bravery, loss and the long shadow cast by conflict, centred on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal — India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, who laid down his life at just 21 during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

The film opens on a striking image: a young soldier, his face smeared with birthday cake, responding “Ikkis” when asked his age by a senior officer. Arun Khetarpal never lived to see 22. That stark truth hangs heavily over the narrative, lending emotional weight to every moment that follows.

Rather than glorifying violence, Ikkis chooses restraint. While the battlefield is shown as brutal and unforgiving, the film consciously avoids gratuitous gore. Raghavan, along with co-writers Arijit Biswas and Pooja Ladha Surti, focuses instead on the dignity of soldiers and the unseen emotional costs of war — a refreshing departure from the jingoistic tone that dominates many recent war films.

Agastya Nanda plays the young, eager Arun with an earnestness that suits the character’s inexperience and idealism. His journey from training under strict superiors to commanding a tank at the Battle of Basantar is portrayed with clarity and emotional honesty. The bond he develops with his comrades, including Risaldar Sagat Singh (Sikander Kher) and Capt Vijendra Malhotra (Vivaan Shah), adds warmth to the otherwise grim setting.

The film also weaves in a subtle romantic thread involving a young woman played by Simar Bhatia. While such moments raise questions about creative liberty, they add a softer contrast to the harsh realities of war.

Running parallel to the battlefield narrative is a poignant storyline involving Arun’s father, retired Brigadier Madan Khetarpal, portrayed by Dharmendra in what is reportedly his final film appearance. As Madan retraces his son’s last journey across the border, guided by Pakistani Brigadier Khwaja Mohammad Naseer (Jaideep Ahlawat), the film explores shared grief, regret and humanity on both sides of the divide. Jaideep Ahlawat delivers a standout performance, bringing quiet depth and emotional complexity to his role.

The film’s anti-war message is unmistakable. Drawing comparisons to classic American war films, Ikkis underscores that while victories may be counted, the true losses — human lives and lasting scars — are borne by all. The back-and-forth narrative structure occasionally disrupts the flow, and Dharmendra’s dialogue delivery falters at times, but these are minor shortcomings in an otherwise impactful film.

With strong performances, a restrained yet powerful storytelling approach, and an emphasis on empathy over aggression, Ikkis emerges as a thoughtful tribute to a young hero and a reminder of the shared humanity that wars often erase.

Cast: Dharmendra, Agastya Nanda, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikander Kher, Vivaan Shah, Suhasini Mulay, Rahul Dev, Ekavali Khanna, Simar Bhatia, Avani Rai, Deepak Dobriyal, Asrani.