Ikkis

Story:

Sriram Raghavan is the director and co-writer of the 2026 Indian Hindi-language biographical war drama film Ikkis (translated as Twenty One). Under Maddock Films, Dinesh Vijan, Binny Padda, Sharada Karki Jalota, and Poonam Shivdasani co-produce it. on addition to Jaideep Ahlawat and Simar Bhatia, it features Agastya Nanda on his stage debut, Dharmendra in his last part, and Asrani in a posthumous appearance. It revolves around the Battle of Basantar during the 1971 India-Pakistan War and is based on the life of Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra award. The age at which Arun Khetarpal became a martyr is referenced in the film’s title. Ikkis was supposed to open in theaters on December 25, 2025, but it was rescheduled for January 1, 2026. Critics gave it favorable reviews, but movie was a box office failure.

The movie follows 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal’s life events leading up to his martyrdom in the 1971 India-Pakistan War’s Battle of Basantar. Additionally, it shows what transpires thirty years later when his father, Brigadier Madan Lal Khetarpal (retd), travels to Pakistan. On October 14, 1971, officers celebrate the 21st birthday of 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal at a training camp in Ahmednagar. At the same time, it is revealed that training has been canceled because of growing tension at the border.

In 2001, Brigadier Jaan Mohammed Nisar is in Lahore, Pakistan, getting ready for Arun’s father, Madan Lal Khetarpal, who is visiting his village of Sargodha and attending a college reunion. Time jumps around to depict Arun’s life story, which includes falling in love with Kiran Kochar, serving as a tank commander, traveling to Pakistan on December 3, 1971—the day Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared war on Pakistan—being mistaken for the Pakistani army by civilians, engaging in combat with more than 14 Patton tanks, and finally passing away (which is later revealed to have been caused by Nisar himself). Additionally, it depicts ML Khetarpal going to the location of his son’s death.