Four movies to revisit during the Indian Independence Day…

First of all, Qatar Living takes this opportunity to wish all its Indian users a happy Independence Day. It’s been 70 years and counting for the world’s biggest democracy.

If you’re feeling patriotic today, and are looking to the silver screen for an added dose of patriotism, these are five movies that you should definitely watch. (Note: I have deliberately kept out movies that are high on jingoism and those about partition).

1. Lagaan

Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan was a masterstroke. He at once played on India’s twin passions — cinema and cricket — and created a mega movie named Lagaan (tax).

Bhuvan (Aamir Khan), is a simple villager in British-ruled India. A born leader, he challenges the British to a game of cricket in exchange for abandonment of taxes during a draught-ridden year. The only catch? No one in his village, including himself, knows how to play the game.

He builds a rag-tag team and beat the Brits at their own game. The movie, which later became a case study for Indian management courses, was also an official entry for the Oscars.

2. Chak De India

This movie is one which proved that people still love the national sport — hockey. The film, directed by Shimit Amin and starring Shah Rukh Khan, uses women’s hockey to tell an inspiring tale of patriotism.

What makes it an absorbing film is the way the director explores themes of sexism as well as ethnic, regional and religious prejudices.

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Khan, a former Indian hockey player who resigned in disgrace, is given a second chance when he takes up coaching reins of a disjointed team of girls trying to win the world championship.

India collectively welcomed the movie with open arms.

3. Swades

Ashutosh Gowariker pulled at the heartstrings of expatriate Indian diaspora by telling the story of an NRI NASA scientist, who returns to the country at a time of need.

Instead of feeling helpless at the prevalent conditions in the country, he decided to take them head on. He soon makes a difference with his never-say-die attitude.

Though it proved to be a damp squib at home, it played on sentiments and patriotism of non-resident Indians and was a mammoth crowd puller overseas.

4. Rang de Basanti

I was still a college student in New Delhi when RDB released. And it was rightly taken up as a celebration of the modern Indian youth.

A British filmmaker named Sue comes to India to make a documentary about the lives of Indian freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Chandrashekhar Azad.

She seeks help from a group of ‘college students.’ When one of their friends dies in a military accident, they transform into modern day freedom fighters and take on the corrupt system. The casting, and direction, were simply breathtaking.

Happy viewing!