Ikkis Review: Sriram Raghavan Crafts a Deeply Human War Drama Led by Dharmendra, Agastya Nanda and Jaideep Ahlawat
Ikkis Review: War always asks for a price to pay, regardless of who wins or loses the battle. Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis comes as a profound reminder of this heavy truth, and it does a brilliant job of making the audience realise the staggering cost of conflict.
Ikkis Movie Review (Cast): Dharmendra, Agastya Nanda, Simar Bhatia, Jaideep Ahlawat, Rahul Dev
Directed by: Sriram Raghavan
The movie Ikkis tells the legendary story of braveheart Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (played by Agastya Nanda), India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. Arun fought in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war at the tender age of 21, performing his duty with honest conviction until his very last breath. In times when most war-based films are often crowded with jingoism, Raghavan takes a more sincere and soulful approach, focusing on the heartbeat behind the uniform.
Ikkis Review: 1971 Vs 2001
What makes Ikkis a worthy watch is its narrative structure. Director Sriram Raghavan divides his story (written by Arijit Biswas, Pooja Ladha Surti, and Sriram) into multiple timelines, alternating mainly between the chaos of 1971 and the reflective atmosphere of 2001. In the 1971 timeline, we are introduced to Arun Khetarpal, portrayed with a raw energy by Agastya Nanda. Having just turned 21, Arun is filled with a sense of heroic fervour. He is one of the youngest tank commanders during the 1971 conflict, and his deep-seated eagerness to fight against Pakistan is visible. For Arun, being a part of the army isn’t just a profession; it is a family legacy. Arun’s father and grandfather were soldiers. Hence, for him, the war represents a dream come true, a chance to follow in their footsteps out of a pure love for the nation and the military life. Even though Arun’s youthful passion to fight for the nation is infectious, it also sets the stage for the harsh reality that follows.
On the other hand, in 2001, we see a different side of the story through Arun’s father, Retired Brigadier M.L. Khetarpal. Played with immense dignity by the late Dharmendra, he brings a much-needed tenderness to the story. In 2001, he is visiting Pakistan for a college reunion, returning to the land where he lived before the partition. During this visit, M.L. Khetarpal is guided by a Pakistani Army officer, Brigadier Khwaja Mohammad Nasir (Jaideep Ahlawat). Nasir speaks highly of Arun Khetarpal, and the revelation regarding the same is just twisted fate in the end. As Nasir takes Arun’s father to his birthplace in Sargodha, the film shifts from a war epic into a deeply moving human drama about reconciliation and shared grief.
Sriram Raghavan masterfully reveals the truth of love and war through this non-linear narrative, leaving a substantial impact. If Arun brings the fiery energy to the story that is necessary for the battlefield, his father balances it with love, longing, and a deep sense of humanity. The director is well-known for his ability to keep audiences on edge with sudden revelations that startle the mind, and Ikkis is no different. However, what keeps you truly glued to the screen is not just the action but the unfolding of a truth that shakes Dharmendra’s character to his very foundation. The revelation towards the end bridges the gap between “enemy” and “human”, making one question the very nature of hatred and conflicts that cost a lot of lives.
Ikkis Review: Challenging the “Keyboard Warrior” Mentality
Ikkis serves as a much-needed reminder that war is not a game or a show for entertainment. In today’s digital age, where it is so easy to be a “keyboard warrior” and call for war against a neighbouring country from the comfort of a couch, the director uses Arun Khetarpal’s story to convey the extreme brutality and the permanent loss that comes with it. The makers carefully and masterfully balance the necessity of a soldier’s duty with the painful consequences that follow every bullet fired. Often, people forget that behind the uniform and the medals is a human being with a family and dreams of their own. Every standing soldier who falls takes with him a world of love that he built for himself and his people. The realisation that soldiers are, first and foremost, humans is the most significant achievement of this film, and it is delivered without ever being loud or preachy.
What makes Ikkis even more remarkable is how it portrays loss on the other side of the border. As the film suggests, regardless of who claims victory, both sides pay a price in the form of bright, young lives cut short. The portrayal of the Pakistani soldiers reflects the same spirit and dedication as that of Arun and his fellow soldiers. Their deaths happen in seconds, and they leave the same void in their homes as they do in India. It is this balanced and brilliant perspective that elevates Ikkis from a regular biopic to a genuine story about the tragedy of warfare.
Ikkis Review: Powerhouse Performances
Coming to performances, Agastya Nanda’s performance as Arun Khetarpal is phenomenal. Agastya brings the necessary zeal and energy that’s expected out of a young soldier and the spirit that takes to fighting until the last breath on the battlefield. Through silences and low moments, he also depicts how it hit Arun and the life he left behind to be where he is, and it is not always a rosy picture. On the other hand, Dharmendra’s portrayal of M.L. Khetarpal rightly depicts love and loss that speaks louder amidst the noise and hatred. He brings such tenderness to a story that otherwise could’ve been a heavy war film. The late actor leaves you in tears with his silences and eyes that long for the peace that existed before the decades of bloodshed he has witnessed. Jaideep Ahlawat mostly shares scenes with the late Dharmendra, and yet he wins you over with his vulnerability, guilt, and quiet emotional precision. He delivers the kind of performance that once again reminds you why he is such a fine actor.
Ikkis Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, Ikkis excellently honours a hero without ever promoting the idea of war. It’s a story of two nations with humans on both sides and the conflicts that often throttle both nations. Sriram Raghavan has managed to tell us the story of a braveheart from 1971 and make it feel incredibly relevant to the modern world. It is a film that demands to be seen, not just for its history, but for its heart.
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