I had the privilege of attending a special screening of Ikkis, held for the military leadership and attended by the Defence Minister, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Army Chief on 22 December, the day I was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant in 1979.  The film releases tomorrow, 01 January 2026, and tells the extraordinary story of 2^nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, one of India’s youngest and bravest war heroes of the 1971 war.

Watching the film was deeply moving for me, not just as a soldier, but as someone who has lived the ethos the film portrays. The story of a 21-year-old officer who chose duty above life is told with integrity, sincerity and restraint. The training sequences at the National Defence Academy, the bond between a young officer and his men, and the early regimental life felt authentic and instantly took me back to my own days at the academy.

The battlefield sequences, particularly the movement of tanks and the flow of combat, have been handled with realism and meticulous attention to detail. The film does not sensationalise war; instead, it portrays courage, confusion and sacrifice as they truly are. A touching narrative thread runs through the film involving Arun Khetarpal’s father, who visits Pakistan for a college reunion and is hosted by a cavalry officer, one Brig Nasser, the very man who had once faced his son in battle.

The mutual respect and dignity shown in that exchange is deeply moving and says a lot about soldiers on both sides of a conflict. In today’s world order, where neo-nationalism often slides into jingoism, the film comes across as a rare breath of fresh air. It underscores a simple yet often overlooked truth – a cliched paradox, but peace is actually what a soldier fights for.

Late Dharmendra, in one of his final performances, brings immense gravitas and emotion to the role of Arun Khetarpal’s father. Agastya Nanda, as Arun, delivers a sincere and restrained performance that does justice to a national hero. As Gen Dwivedi said during his address – Agastya portrays Arun’s youthful innocence combined with a soldier’s aggression.

A special mention must also go to Aryan Pushkar, who plays Arun’s unit officer (The Poona Horse), a role made even more personal for me, as his real-life father is a serving Strike Corps Commander from my own regiment, 74 Armoured. Family members of Arun Khetarpal’s tank crew (Famagusta) added a poignant touch.

As Ikkis releases tomorrow, I feel privileged to have watched it early. It is more than just a war film- it is a tribute to courage, character and quiet heroism. I sincerely hope families across the country watch it together and remember a young officer who gave his life so that others could live in freedom.

Col Ashwani Sharma (retd), Editor-in-Chief