1971. A nation comes of age.|Nov. 10, 2023|India|140 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Bollywood;Drama;War
Description: Pippa is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language biographical war film that tells the story of Captain Balram Singh Mehta, who served in India’s 45 Cavalry regiment during the eastern front of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The movie is inspired by real events from the Battle of Garibpur in 1971 and is directed by Raja Krishna Menon. It features Ishaan Khatter, Mrunal Thakur, and Priyanshu Painyuli in lead roles, and was produced by RSVP Movies and Roy Kapur Films.
The film premiered on November 10, 2023, on Amazon Prime Video. Pippa stands out as a war movie that avoids many clichéd tropes commonly found in Bollywood films, presenting a realistic depiction of soldiers and revolutionaries. The narrative gradually builds up, ultimately portraying heroism on the battlefield without resorting to superficial bravado. The characters are relatable, grappling with personal challenges and doubts as they embark on their mission.
Pippa emphasizes a noble cause and the individuals fighting for it, focusing on human experiences rather than mere nationalism. While not every attempt in the film is fully successful, it resonates through its restraint in addressing themes of violence, courage, and mortality. The battle scenes are pivotal to the story but are complemented by a strong focus on the human elements involved.
Set against the backdrop of the significant Battle of Garibpur in November 1971, the film features three siblings: two contrasting brothers serving in the army and their determined sister, a student activist from Delhi University, who is recruited by India’s intelligence agency to intercept and decode secret wartime communications.
Cast director: Raja Menon
Cast actor: Ishaan Khattar, Mrunal Thakur, Priyanshu Painyuli, Soni Razdan, Soham Majumdar, Chandrachoor Rai, Inaamulhaq, Avijit Dutt, Leysan Karimova, Neeraj Pardeep Purohit
Original name: पिप्पा