From 'Veerapandiya Kattabomman' and 'Kittur Chennamma' to 'Veeraputhran' and 'Ghazi', many South Indian films portrayed nationalism in its true spirit.
Popular South Indian films on Indian Struggle for Independence. (Supplied)
Several feature films have successfully hit the Indian screens as a tribute to our real heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the freedom struggle.
From patriotic sagas to historical dramas and biopics of freedom fighters, our filmmakers did their best to capture the spirit of nationalism and reflect the sacrifices made by our ancestors to achieve independence for India.
On the occasion of the 77th Indian Independence Day on Tuesday, 15 August, let’s delve into some popular feature films based on our freedom struggle that are most loved and appreciated by the South Indian audience even to this date.
Shivaji Ganeshan in ‘Veerapandiya Kattabomman’. (Supplied)
Several Tamil films have been made on India’s Struggle for Independence. Notable among these are outstanding classics like Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1959) and Kappalottiya Thamizhan (1961), both of which were directed by BR Panthulu. They featured Sivaji Ganesan in the lead.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman, in particular, is synonymous with freedom and self-respect.
The 1959 film tells the story of the 18th-century king who ruled the kingdom of Panchalankurinchi. It showcases how he refused to bow to the diktats of the British and stood up to them right till the very end.
While the movie itself was an overwhelming hit, one sequence, in particular, is considered iconic to this day.
In the said scene, Kattabomman delivers a series of piercing questions to a British officer, asking him the grounds on which he was demanding tax. The dialogue Kattabomman delivers is something even children in Tamil Nadu know by heart.
The other significant film Kappalottiya Tamzihan was also about another eminent freedom fighter from Tamil Nadu called VO Chidambaram Pillai.
A wealthy man with great courage and wisdom, Chidambaram Pillai founded India’s first shipping firm — Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company — to break the monopoly of the British on the maritime trade being conducted on Indian shores.
His move rattled the British, who conspired to take it down and get Pillai arrested.
Kamal Haasan in ‘Indian’. (Supplied)
Two other films that will be remembered for showcasing our freedom struggle are director Priyadarshan’s Siraichalai (1996, released as Kaalapani in Hindi) and director Shankar’s Indian (1996).
Siraichalai aka Kaalapani starred Mohanlal and Prabhu in the lead and was more about the ordeals that freedom fighters detained at the infamous cellular jail on the Andaman islands.
Indian featured Kamal Haasan in a dual role (father and son). It had a significant portion that was set during the pre-Independence era. The sequences revolved around the central character of Senapathy.
A poster of the film ‘Khadgam’. (Supplied)
If you’re a 90s kid, you might probably have grown up hearing the popular patriotic number “Ma Telugu Talliki Malle Poodanda“, which used to be played in schools during Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations.
A patriotic fervour would waft through the air every time this song was played. It is always remembered as a symbol of the Telugu people and its myriad cultures.
It is written by Sankarambadi Sundaraachari and sung by Suryakumari in 1942 for the film Deena Bandhu (1942).
The song was later released as a private label. It starts with the lyrics — “A tribute to the mother Telugu, a garland of jasmines to the mother, with a feeling of profound respect to the great mother who birthed us.”
It was not so long after “Maa Telugu Thalli…” was overshadowed by the famous chartbuster from director Krishna Vamsi’s Khadgam in 2002, the way patriotism is perceived by Telugu audiences slightly changed.
Culture is an integral aspect of Khadgam‘s story. The movie tried to convey a subtle message through characters who take pride in national identity as well as cultural assimilation.
Khadgam is known to be one of the most widely acclaimed patriotic films on the Telugu silver screen winning five Nandi and three Filmfare awards. Khadgam is streaming on Voot.
A poster of the film ‘Major’. (Supplied)
If there is another flick that could probably take Khadgam‘s place, it should be either Major (2022) or Ghazi (2017).
Major is a biopic of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a martyred personnel in the Armed Forces, who sacrificed his life during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka and starring Adivi Sesh in the lead, the film is made as a universal drama.
It doesn’t precisely belong to a particular region, though there is a mention of Unnikrishnan’s early childhood and his years in NDA. Major is streaming on Netflix.
A war thriller, Ghazi by director Sankalp Reddy is another edge-of-the-seat story featuring Rana Daggubati, Taapsee Pannu, and Kay Kay Menon in key roles.
The movie was inspired by the real incidents of the Indo-Pakistan 1971 war when an Indian submarine thwarted the attempts of Pakistan submarine PNS Ghazi’s mission to destroy INS Vikrant.
‘Pazhassi Raja’ was a massive hit. (Supplied)
Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009) is directed by veteran filmmaker Hariharan. Scripted by MT Vasudevan Nair, the Mammootty-starrer is an epic historical drama.
It revolves around the life of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, the king who fought the British Raj after the East India Company failed to follow a treaty which was signed for the welfare of his people.
Produced by Gokulam Gopalan, Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja depicted the heroism of the Pazhassi Raja who fought till his last breath.
The movie was a critical and commercial success upon its release. It was a multi-star movie with an ensemble cast —Sarath Kumar, Manoj K Jayan, Padma Priya, and Kaniha.
Veeraputhran (2011) is an important film in the career of Narain. Prithviraj was to be initially cast in it, but Narain was finalised.
‘Veeraputhran’ featured Narain in a major role. (Supplied)
Directed by PT Kunju Muhammed, it narrates the tale of Mohammed Abdul Rahiman, an anti-colonial activist who was an influential force in fighting the British. He was the president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee and editor of a Malayalam daily.
Abdul Rahiman was known for leading the Khilafat Movement and he tried to instil nationalism among the people.
Veeraputhran portrayed their failures and struggles as a leader and their sacrifice for the nation. It covered the period in Malabar history — from the arrival of Abdul Rahiman in Kerala at the age of 23 and his discontinuation of education in Aligarh to his demise in 1945.
It also mentioned the story of Rahiman Sahib’s desperate failure in the election of 1934 and the victory that reclaimed his position in the election of 1937.
Dr Rajkumar and B Saroja Devi in ‘Kittur Chennamma’. (Supplied)
Of the many freedom fighters, Kittur Rani Chennamma has a special place in Kannada history for her valour, and for being one of the first women freedom fighters in India.
Directed by BR Pathulu, veteran actress B Saroja Devi delivered one of her iconic performances by playing the titular role in Kittur Chennamma (1961) who led an army against the British East India Company in 1824.
Even Kannada thespian late Dr Rajkumar played the role of King Mallasarja, husband of Chennamma. She died in captivity.
A poster of the film ‘Hagalu Vesha’. (Supplied)
Hagalu Vesha (2000), directed by Baraguru Ramachandrappa and starring Dr Shiva Rajkumar, is another top patriotic flick that revolved around a man who fights against the taxation and tyranny of the British era.
Directed by veteran filmmaker, Hunsur Krishnamurthy Veera Sindhoora Lakshmana(1977) is based on the life of a revolutionary Indian freedom fighter who engaged in the freedom struggle against the British colonial government in India.
While several more movies fall into a similar category, a few honourable mentions include Muthina Haara (1990), Thaayi Saheba (1997), and Kranti Veera Sangolli Rayanna (2012).
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