The Legend of Bhagat Singh: This critically acclaimed film by Raj Kumar Santoshi starring Ajay Devgn in the title role along with Sushant Singh as Sukhdev and D Santosh as Rajguru was released in the year 2002. It was a story of a young revolutionary Bhagat Singh who raised an armed resistance against the British rule in India and was hanged by the Britishers at the mere age of 23. It also tells the story of their 63-day fast unto death to improve the conditions of Indian freedom-fighter prisoners and their huge sacrifice for the country. The film won two National Awards.
Bose: The Forgotten Hero: The iconic portrayal of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose played by Sachin Khedekar and directed by Shyam Benegal, showed the last five years of the life of India's greatest freedom fighter. Released in 2004, it showed Netaji giving up the post of president of the Indian National Congress, later heading to Europe to meet Hitler requesting the latter's support and his success in forming the Indian National Army comprising Indian POWs with the support of Japan. The film culminates with India gaining freedom on 15th August 1947.
Mangal Pandey: The Rising: Based on the life of Mangal Pandey played by Aamir Khan, the film was about the leader of the 1857 mutiny and his fight against the British rule. Mangal Pandey was a daring soldier whose initiatives fueled the First War of Indian Independence of 1857. Directed by Ketan Mehta and released in 2005, the film also starred Amisha Patel, as a woman about to die under Sati pratha but saved later, and Rani Mukherjee.
Making of the Mahatma: This Shyam Benegal classic tells the story of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi early 21 years in South Africa. The film released in the year 1996, won two National Awards for Best Actor played by Rajit Kapur as Gandhi and Best Feature Film in English
Khelen Hum Jee Jaan Se: The film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and released in 2010, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in lead roles, showed the journey of the Chittagong Uprising of 1930, from the awakening to its aftermath. Led by a school teacher, a set of revolutionaries, mostly school-going teenagers, initiated five simultaneous attacks on British strongholds in Chittagong. The role of Surjya Sen or Masterda is played by Abhishek Bachchan who is an eminent revolutionary leader of the Indian Republican Army Chittagong. Pic/Santa Banta
Veer Savarkar: The film, based on the life of revolutionary Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was directed by Ved Rahi and released in the year 2001, starring Shailendra Gaur in the lead role. It showed Savarkar heading to England to become a barrister and enrolling for his revolutionary activities in London. He was later shown openly opposing the British raj (rule) and getting arrested, tried escaping while being transferred to India and finishes with India's Independence. The movie had a silver jubilee at Plaza Cinema in Mumbai and Prabhat Cinema in Pune.
Sardar: Director Ketan Mehta's finest biopic showed Paresh Rawal portraying the life of India's Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The film illustrated Patel getting involved in the freedom struggle of India after his introduction to Mahatma Gandhi which led him to begin Satyagrahas throughout Gujarat. Paresh Rawal gave an epic performance in this 1993 classic
Junoon: Directed by Shyam Benegal in the year 1978, the movie was set around the Indian Mutiny of 1857, where Indian soldiers fought with the British to win back their land. The film cast included stalwarts like Shashi Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Jennifer Kendal and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.
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