By – Diya Audrey Marks
Shershaah is a movie of a brave heart Indian soldier who got martyred during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1999. Vikram Batra (Sidharth Malhotra) is a simple guy from Palampur, Himanchal who stays with his parents and his twin brother Vishal Batra. Since his childhood, he was always interested in joining the Army while watching the Param Vir Chakra. He grows up appreciating and idolizing the Army and then realizes his dream of passing out as Lieutenant Vikram Batra in the 13th Jammu and Kasmir Rifle.
Later, in his college days, he fell in love with a girl named Dimple. He then, made up his mind to join the Indian Navy and got selected in the Merchant Navy. His girlfriend Dimple was glad but confused about their future and his career. They both wanted to get married but somehow got refused by Dimple’s father as they both belonged to different castes. Vikram, by the time, was preparing for his CDS (Combined Defence Services) to get into the Army as he realized that he wasn’t meant for the Navy. He later joins the Army and got commissioned as Lieutenant Vikram Batra in 13JAK RIF.
Some people are born warriors and Vikram was one of them. He was posted in J&K where he developed good relations with the natives, and he came to know about a group of terrorists teaching terrorism to the youngsters. He wins head over heels of the local people. Just before the Kargil war, he comes home for holiday and suddenly the Pakistani Army got offensive to capture Kashmir and sends troops to capture Kargil. As soon as he heard the news of the war, he cut short his vacations and went back on his duty, where he makes a promise to his friend Sunny, “Oye Fikar Na Kar Jaani, Tiranga Lehrakar Aaunga, Nahi Toh Usme Lipatke Aaunga, lekin Aaunga Zaroor”.
Later, when they further moved for the war, they faced ample casualties. Vikram’s codename was Shershaah and the victory signal was Yeh Dil Maange More, they used it when they found something is dicey with the opposite Army or for their radio communication. While climbing a gigantic rock the Pakistani Army started throwing granites in the Indian Army which made it even worse. Eventually, the Indian Army destroyed four bunkers they were aware of, unaware of the fifth one, Vikram ran with the slogan “Durge Mata Ki Jai” to drop granite on them but a sniper from the back hits him before he can fire. He runs across to rescue him in the open ground, but he is hit multiple times by both sniper and AK-47. As he collapses, he watches Subedar Raghunath Singh, taking the charge of the final bunker. The men then raised the Indian flag in victory. Some people are born warriors and Captain Batra was one of them. He was a staunch patriot and died defending his country with a smile on his face.
Unlike anything, this movie was a bang-on movie to be enjoyed on the big screen.