Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Five Patriotic Hindi Films to Watch on 80th Independence Day
India has a special birthday on August 15, when it celebrates 80 years of being independent.
To mark the day, a news article suggests five movies that show love for the country in different ways.
One movie, "Rang De Basanti", follows young friends who learn about and mirror India's freedom fighters.
Another, "Swades", tells the story of Shah Rukh Khan's character, a scientist who comes back from NASA to help a village.
"Sam Bahadur" tells the true story of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, a famous army general.
"Raazi" is about a brave young woman, played by Alia Bhatt, who secretly gathers information for India during a war.
The fifth movie is called "Ikkis".
Some of these movies are about soldiers, heroes and spies, while others are about ordinary people.
They all show that loving your country can mean many different things.
India celebrates its 80th Independence Day on August 15, prompting a list of five patriotic Hindi films.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 2006 film "Rang De Basanti" follows young friends whose lives begin to mirror the freedom fighters they portray.
Ashutosh Gowariker's "Swades" stars Shah Rukh Khan as an NRI NASA worker who rediscovers patriotism through village development.
Meghna Gulzar's "Sam Bahadur" depicts Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw's military career, including the Second World War, Partition and the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
Meghna Gulzar's "Raazi" features Alia Bhatt as Sehmat, a spy who marries into a Pakistani military family; "Ikkis" is the fifth film listed.
- Who
- Indian film directors Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Ashutosh Gowariker and Meghna Gulzar, and actors Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt
- What
- A curated list of five patriotic Hindi films — Rang De Basanti, Swades, Sam Bahadur, Raazi and Ikkis — to watch on Independence Day
- When
- India's 80th Independence Day, August 15
- Where
- India; the article was published in Mumbai
- Why
- To revisit films that portray patriotism in different ways, from young revolutionaries and spies to army heroes
- Occasion
- India's 80th Independence Day
- Date
- August 15
- Films Listed
- Rang De Basanti, Swades, Sam Bahadur, Raazi, Ikkis
- Rang De Basanti Release Year
- 2006
- Swades Lead Actor
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Sam Bahadur Subject
- Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw's life and military career
- Raazi Plot
- A young woman spies for India during the 1971 war
- City of Publication
- Mumbai