A moving Indo-Pak war drama that puts humanity first

*The overall critic’s rating is not an average of the sub scores above

Synopsis: Based on a true story, Ikkis follows 80-year-old Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal (Dharmendra) as he journeys to Pakistan to revisit the battlefield where his son, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (Agastya Nanda), was martyred during the 1971 India–Pakistan war at just 21 years of age. When he visits Pakistan in 2001, he is warmly welcomed by retired Brigadier Khwaja Mohammad Naser (Jaideep Ahlawat), a former adversary who carries a devastating truth—the impossible burden of revealing to a father that it was he who killed his son. Review: Sriram Raghavan, best known as a master of neo-noir crime thrillers, ventures onto unfamiliar terrain with Ikkis, a humane war drama that shuttles between past and present. It is a challenging film to navigate, as Raghavan must balance the portrayal of the gallantry of one of India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardees (posthumous) with a more understated theme—the quiet, mutual respect shared by soldiers on opposing sides, bound by a common understanding of the true cost of war and the pain of losing loved ones. Raghavan’s trademark, unpredictable humour crops up in the most unexpected places, adding a delightful edge that works wonders. In Ikkis, patriotism roars, while courage forgives. The emotional core of the film lies in a heart-wrenching face-off staged away from the battlefield. Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat breathe life into the narrative through a sublime, soulful interplay of grief and guilt. Largely functioning as a two-hander, the film is held together by these two formidable performances, which anchor it even when the pace feels inconsistent and storytelling gets stagnant in portions. Unlike most war films, Ikkis doesn’t glorify conflict; it strives for realism. There’s no heavy reliance on CGI or dramatic sound design, which largely works in the film’s favour. However, the music is underwhelming and does little to elevate the narrative or emotional beats. Agastya Nanda, in the titular role, is age-appropriate and well-suited to the character. He brings a no-nonsense sincerity and quiet charm that is endearing, though his eyes occasionally lack the depth needed to convey deeper emotion. Slightly stiff in places, he still comes across as a refreshing presence and an actor you’d like to see more of going forward. Debutante Simar Bhatia shows promise with a confident screen presence and ease in front of the camera. Sikander Kher makes a strong impression in a brief but significant role and once again proves he deserves more substantial opportunities. Rahul Dev leaves his mark, while Vivaan Shah is equally affable in his part. Ikkis works as a warm, heartfelt tribute—not only to the nation’s bravehearts but also as a quiet acknowledgement of the late Dharmendra’s acting prowess and range, which was often underutilised over the course of his illustrious career. In a moving scene, he leaves you teary-eyed with the line, “Zindagi apna raasta bana hi leti hai.”