Ikkis (2026) [Movie Review] — A Quiet, Compassionate War Drama That Puts Humanity Before Heroics

Sriram Raghavan, a director best known for taut neo-noirs, surprises by delivering a restrained biographical war drama with Ikkis. Anchored in a true story from the 1971 India–Pakistan conflict, the film chooses intimacy over spectacle, examining duty, grief and the strange fellowship that war can forge between adversaries.

Synopsis

A father's pilgrimage and an old soldier's terrible secret

Ikkis follows 80-year-old Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal (Dharmendra) as he travels to Pakistan in 2001 to revisit the field where his son, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (Agastya Nanda), died at 21 during the 1971 war. There he meets retired Brigadier Khwaja Mohammad Naser (Jaideep Ahlawat), a former enemy who carries a devastating truth—one that will redefine both men's lives and force an emotionally wrenching confrontation far from the battlefield.

Direction & Screenplay

Raghavan stretches his range with emotional nuance

Co-written by Arijit Biswas, Sriram Raghavan and Pooja Ladha Surti, the script balances shifts in time with surprising tenderness. Raghavan resists melodrama; instead, he lets small gestures and silences carry the weight. His trademark wry humour surfaces sparingly and effectively, offering relief without undermining the film’s gravitas. The pacing sometimes stutters—moments of stagnation dilute momentum—but the film’s moral seriousness and rare restraint are refreshing in an era of bombastic war cinema.

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Performances

A master and a peerless counterpart hold the film together

Dharmendra delivers one of the most quietly affecting performances of his later career. As a grieving father, he avoids grandiosity and earns genuine emotion in a scene that lingers long after it ends. Jaideep Ahlawat is superbly measured as the retired Pakistani brigadier, conveying a lifetime of remorse and the terror of an unbearable confession. Their two-hander scenes are the film’s emotional core—sublime, restrained and humane.

Agastya Nanda, playing Arun, is age-appropriate and steadier than many debutant leads; his sincerity suits the role even if his range occasionally feels limited. Simar Bhatia shows promise and screen confidence, while supporting turns from Sikander Kher, Rahul Dev and Vivaan Shah add texture. The late Dharmendra’s presence turns Ikkis into a moving tribute that underlines his often-underused capability for depth.

Technical Aspects

Realism over spectacle; music could have done more

Ikkis deliberately avoids CGI-heavy set pieces. Cinematography opts for naturalism—muted palettes, close frames and weathered landscapes that underscore memory and loss. Production design and period detail feel authentic without calling attention to themselves. Where the film falters is the score: the music rarely amplifies the emotional beats, leaving some scenes wanting more resonance.

Themes & Takeaway

Patriotism that forgives: a meditation on the cost of war

Rather than glorifying combat, Ikkis asks what soldiers take home with them: honour, trauma, or the knowledge of another human’s loss. The film’s power lies in its insistence that courage and compassion can coexist across borders. It’s a thoughtful tribute to Arun Khetarpal’s gallantry and a humane exploration of accountability and reconciliation.

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Verdict

A moving, imperfect film worth seeing

Ikkis is ambitious and often deeply moving. It may not satisfy viewers seeking a large-scale war spectacle, but as a character-driven biopic, it succeeds—mostly because of excellent central performances and Raghavan’s surprising tonal control. With a little more momentum and a stronger musical score, the film could have been exceptional. As it stands, Ikkis is a warm, heartfelt, and thoughtful wartime drama that honours bravery while choosing empathy over triumphalism.

Overall Rating: ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)