Celebrate Indian Independence Day with 10 movies filled with patriotism

As the world celebrates Indian Independence Day on its 75th anniversary, here are 10 of the best movies to fill yourself with patriotism.

There is an argument that no other country in humankind’s history struggled to gain independence from the British Empire more than India.

This week, the world will celebrate India’s 75^th independence anniversary and understandably, there are countless people looking to get a true sense of patriotism through the wonderful world of movies.

From classic films to epic sagas, here are our top 10 favourite movies that will surely give you that feeling of patriotism as we celebrate Indian Independence Day.

Gandhi (1982)

Arguably the best depiction of India’s victorious struggle for independence, 1982’s Gandhi is one of the most emotional and heartfelt films you can watch whilst celebrating the nation’s 75^th year anniversary.

Starring Ben Kingsley and directed by Richard Attenborough, Gandi (1982) has a rating of 8.1/10 on IMDB and 92% on Rotten Tomatoes; the film is available through Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube, Google Play and Netflix (limited territories).

Shershaah (2021)

India has been involved in various fierce wars both prior to and since gaining independence but aside from the World Wars, arguably none were more brutal than the Kargil War of 1999. One of the best military movies to come out of India, Shershaah tells the incredible story of Captain Vikram “Vicky” Batra who was martyred during the conflict and will certainly get those patriotic feelings pumping.

Starring Sidharth Malhotra and directed by Vishnuvardhan, Shershaah (2021) has an 8.4/10 rating on IMDB and is available to stream through Amazon Prime Video.

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

Produced on a budget of Rs 25 Crore, Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India was the most expensive Indian movie ever produced when it debuted in cinemas around the world in 2001.

Telling the incredible story of a group of villagers who are challenged to a game of Cricket by the British Army after burdening them with shocking taxation levels – not only do they need to learn about Cricket, but claim victory over an arrogant officer.

The movie stars Aamir Khan and an outstanding cast, Lagaan has a rating of 8.1/10 on IMDB and 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, available to stream through Netflix (limited territories).

RRR (2022)

Easily HITC’s favourite film on this list and certainly on our Top 10 films of 2022, RRR is a masterpiece of epic proportion that will have you laughing, crying, dancing, shouting and singing patriotically, pretty much every 30-minutes, throughout this three-hour-long saga.

Lead’s N.T. Rama Rao Jr and Ram Charan both give performances of a lifetime in this instant classic, which also holds an outstanding 8/10 on IMDB and 94% on Rotten Tomatoes – available to stream through Netflix in multiple languages.

The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)

Despite being a box office flop in 2002, The Legend of Bhagat Singh has become widely considered to be a classic movie about Indian independence. The film follows the life and death of Bhagat Singh, a freedom fighter who rose to a level of superhero status for his people fighting for the Indian revolution.

Starring the likes of Ajay Devgan, Sushant Singh and Akhilendra Mishra, the film has a score of 8.1/10 on IMDB and 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Legend of Bhagat Singh is available to stream via Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV and Google Play.

Viceroy’s House (2017)

A rather surprising entry on this list for many fans, Viceroy’s House may not have the same sense of patriotism that the other films have – but its status in depicting one of the most important moments in Indian history cannot be understated.

Starring Hugh Bonneville, Gillan Anderson, Manish Dayal, Huma Qureshi and Michael Gambon, this film has an underwhelming score of 6.7/10 on IMDB and 72% on Rotten Tomatoes. These ratings should certainly not turn you off this emotional film, which is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video and Netflix (limited territories).

Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019)

India’s fascinating history is incredibly long and in turn, there are plenty of stories prior to the 1900s that deserve a credible and entertaining depiction. Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy tells the story of Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy, who led an armed revolt of more than 5,000 Indian peasants against the East India Company in 1847.

A classic historical action movie, Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy features the likes of Chiranjeevi, Nayanthara, Tamannaah and Sudeep in lead roles. Scoring a 7.3/10 on IMDB, this film is a must-watch for anyone looking to celebrate India’s Independence Day with a more historical tale, available on Amazon Prime Video.

Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)

Another classic movie about Indian independence, this film tells the story of Mangal Pandey, the soldier who is widely accredited to have sparked the first rebellion against the British in 1857.

Starring Aamir Khan is his hit comeback role, Mangal Pandey: The Rising features scores of 6.5/10 on IMDB, but 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

Major (2022)

Whilst India had gained independence long before the events depicted in Major, the movie certainly provides that patriotic spirit and never-say-die attitude that drove the nation to self-governance.

The movie tells the story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an Indian Army officer who was tragically killed during the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks: his actions ultimately led him to posthumously to receiving the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award available.

Major has a score of 8.3/10 on IMDB and 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film can be streamed in multiple languages via Netflix.

Sardar Udham (2021)

Our final entry on this list of Indian Independence Day films is another modern classic. This movie tells the story of Udham Singh, a freedom fighter who became infamous for revolutionary ideals after assassinating the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Starring Vicky Kaushal and directed by Shoojit Sircar, the film has ratings of 8.4/10 on IMDB and 94% on Rotten Tomatoes – available to stream via Amazon Prime Video.

By Tom Llewellyn – [email protected]

In other news, Celebrate Indian Independence Day with 10 movies filled with patriotism