Sam Bahadur
Sam Bahadur is a 2023 Hindi biographical war drama film based on the life of India's first field marshal, Sam Manekshaw. The film is directed by Meghna Gulzar and stars Vicky Kaushal as Manekshaw, along with Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Neeraj Kabi, and others. The film chronicles Manekshaw's journey from a young cadet at the Indian Military Academy to a decorated war hero who led India to victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. The film also explores his personal and professional relationships, his clashes with political leaders, and his legacy as one of the most respected and admired military leaders in Indian history.
Here is summary of the movie:
The movie begins with a flashback to 1934, when Sam Manekshaw is among the first batch of gentleman cadets to be trained at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He meets his junior-cum-rival, Tikka Khan, who later becomes the chief of the Pakistan Army. He also falls in love with Siloo Bode, whom he marries after graduating from the academy. He is posted as a second lieutenant to the 12th Frontier Force Regiment, Ferozpur, and participates in the Second World War in Burma, where he is wounded and awarded the Military Cross for gallantry.
The movie then shifts to 1947, when India gains independence and is partitioned into two countries. Manekshaw is approached by his colleague Maj. Yahya Khan to join the Pakistan Army, but he chooses to stay with India. He is involved in the Kashmir conflict, where he secures the accession of Kashmir to India with the help of V. P. Menon. He also faces a court-martial on charges of impropriety, but is cleared by his superiors.
The movie then covers the 1962 Sino-Indian War, where Manekshaw, now a major general and Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, is asked by defence minister V. K. Krishna Menon and Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Brij Mohan Kaul about his opinion on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. K. S. Thimayya. Manekshaw refuses to indulge in political interference and criticizes their handling of the war. He is transferred to a remote post in the Northeast, where he trains the troops and prepares them for future conflicts.
The movie then focuses on the 1971 Indo-Pak War, where Manekshaw, now the COAS, plans and executes the strategy to liberate Bangladesh from Pakistan. He faces opposition from prime minister Indira Gandhi and her cabinet, who are reluctant to go to war. He convinces them with his charisma and confidence, and assures them of a decisive victory. He also maintains a cordial relationship with Gandhi, despite their differences. He leads the Indian Army to a historic triumph, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh and the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers. He is hailed as a national hero and is conferred the rank of Field Marshal by Gandhi.
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