Prime Video has unveiled the first trailer for the new Indian war moviePippa, starringIshaan Khatteras a young soldier during the 1971 India-Pakistan War. Directed byRaja Krishna Menon, the film is based on the firsthand account of BrigadierBalram Singh Mehta, documented in the book “The Burning Chaffees”. Centering on a tank squadron during the pivotal Battle of Garibpur,Pippawill likely remind audiences ofDavid Ayer’s acclaimed 2016 filmFury, which starredBrad Pittin the central role.
The trailer opens with a voiceover from the then-Indian Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi, declaring war against neighboring Pakistan. This is the conflict that resulted in the formation of Bangladesh. The Indian Army supported the Bangladeshi rebel outfit known as the Mukti Bahini during the war, a detail that is also mentioned in the trailer. “For the first time, the Indian Army is going to cross international borders,” one character says ina rousing speech, before declaring, “We fight like soldiers, we kill like soldiers, we die like soldiers!”
As promised, the trailer shows plenty of tank-based action, culminating with a hint of Academy Award-winnerA.R. Rahman’s original music from the film. The movie gets its title from the amphibious war tank called the PT-76 (Palavushi Tanka), which was popularly known as “Pippa.” After setting the context for the war, the trailer reveals a lavish money-shot in which these amphibious tanks can be seen gracefully floating on the water, painting an almost serene picture beforeunleashing grim violence. Khatter stars as Mehta, who assumed command over the squadron after their leader fell during a mission.
‘Pippa’ Isn’t the Only Indian Film to Revisit the 1971 War This Year
Popular Indian Films About the 1971 War
Year of Release
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Incidentally,Pippawill be the third Bollywood film this year to be set during the 1971 India-Pakistan War, following the massive blockbusterGadar 2, and the upcomingSam Bahadur, a biopic of the legendarySam Manekshaw, who served as the Chief of the Army Staff during the conflict. He’ll be played by the acclaimedVicky Kaushalin the film. Khatter, on the other hand, is a relatively new star who debuted with Iranian directorMajid Majidi’sBeyond the Clouds, and followed it up with a central role Netflix’sA Suitable Boyand a cameo inDon’t Look Up.
Also starringPriyanshu Painyuli, who played the primary antagonist in the Netflix filmExtraction;Mrunal Thakur, who starred in the Prime Video movieToofan; andSoni Razdan, veteran actress and the mother ofHeart of StonestarAlia Bhatt,Pippawill be released on Prime Video on November 10, in time for the Diwali festival in India. You can watch the trailer here, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
