'Shershaah' To 'LOC: Kargil': Watch These Films On Kargil War

The Kargil War was a battle that erupted in May–July 1999 between Pakistan and India in Kargil, a region of the contentious Kashmir area situated along the line of control that separates Kashmir's administrations by Pakistan and India.

Over the years, Bollywood has developed a number of films to depict the level of bravery our soldiers demonstrated at the time and the numerous challenges they had to overcome.

Watch These Five Films On Kargil War:

Shershaah, 2021

Shershaah tells the tale of Captain Vikram Batra, age 24, who died on the Kargil War battlefields and was posthumously given the Param Vir Chakra. Sidharth Malhotra plays the title character and the military hero of Kargil. After a brief look at his early years, the narrative jumps to Vikram in college, when he falls in love with Dimple (Kiara Advani).

Their love tale reads like a Bollywood movie, complete with a father who is against their relationship and Batra nicking his finger to use his blood instead of vermillion.  His transition from a college student to a lieutenant shows scenes with his family dynamics, military training, and his bravery during the Kargil War. In addition to honouring the hundreds of people who died during the Kargil War, the film respectfully describes Batra's life and leadership.

Available on: Amazon Prime Video

Sidharth Malhotra in Shershaah

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, 2020

The film details the remarkable true story, hardships, and gender-based prejudice experienced by Gunjan Saxena, a former Indian Air Force pilot who is played by Janhvi Kapoor. Gunjan, a former helicopter pilot who was 24 at the time, made history in 1999 when she flew Cheetah helicopters in the Kargil war zone as the country's combat aviator. She was in charge of carrying out medical evacuations, dropping supplies, and mapping enemy positions. Gunjan, also known as the "Kargil Girl," received the Shaurya Vir medal for exhibiting outstanding bravery during the Kargil war in 1999.

Available on: Netflix

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl

Mausam, 2011

Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor played the main characters in this romance war-drama film. Aayat, a Kashmiri girl, and Harry, an IAF officer, fall in love. The day before the couple is set to get engaged, Harry gets called to Kargil War. The fundamental cause of their separation, though, is the way that things changed during the war. The journey of the pair as they attempt to get together during a conflict is shown. The movie received favourable reviews from reviewers and did well at the box office.

Available on: Zee 5

Suggested Reading: Female Army Officer Who Served In Kargil War Shares Shares Her Story

Lakshya, 2004

Set against the backdrop of the Kargil War, the story focuses on the life of a soldier and how his perspective shifts as he dons the Indian Army uniform. In the fictional story Lakshya, Karan Shergill enlists in the military despite having no clear life goals. Kargil, in Ladakh, is where the battalion is headquartered. As the conflict begins, he is summoned to Line of Control (LoC), and that becomes his ultimate objective. The movie was well-received by critics, developed a cult following, and continues to be a crowd favourite.

Available on: Netflix

LOC: Kargil, 2003

Suniel Shetty, Saif Ali Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshaye Khanna, Ajay Devgn, and Sanjay Dutt all played significant roles in the movie, which featured a star-studded ensemble cast. The movie is based on the Indian Army's successful Operation Vijay, which began in May 1999 in response to Pakistan's invasion and seizure of the vital heights in the Kargil area in order to drive the Pakistanis from the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC). It is one of the longest Indian films ever filmed, coming in at 255 minutes, and ranks fifth in terms of length.

Available on: Amazon Prime Video