National Film Development Corporation’s OTT platform Cinemas of India will stream for free the Patriotic Film Festival till August 21, showcasing the best of Indian cinema depicting India’s struggle for freedom and its exceptional heroes to mark the 74th Independence Day celebrations

Gandhi (Hindi, 1982)

Director: Richard Attenborough
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, Roshan Sheth, Saeed Jaffery, Virendra Razdan, Candice Bergen

The film spans 56 out of Gandhi’s 79 years. It starts with his days in South Africa, where Gandhi is seen as a young attorney, who is thrown out of a first class compartment in spite of having a valid ticket. Angered at this humiliation, Gandhi decides to protest for the rights of Indians and other coloured people. It is here that he meets with his first success. His fame spreads to India and he is invited to return home to take part in the freedom struggle. On arrival, he is shocked at the poverty in the country and undertakes to travel all over the country to witness, at first hand, the atrocities of the British Empire. Gandhi’s struggle to win freedom for India through his non-violent approach, his belief that men are more good than evil and his spiritual ideas all form a part of this saga, the biography of a fascinating world leader – both spiritual and political.

The Legend Of Bhagat Singh (Hindi, 2002)

Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
Starring: Ajay Devgan, Raj Babar, Farida Jalal,Amrita Rao

Born in British India, Bhagat Singh witnesses numerous atrocities during his childhood and grows up to become one of the most fearless freedom fighters in the country.

Gandhi Se Mahatma Tak (Hindi, 1996)

Director: Shyam Benegal
Starring: Rajit Kapoor, Pallavi Joshi, Keith Stevenson, Paul Slabolepszy

“Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a young England-educated barrister-at-law, then practising in Rajkot in Kathiawad, is invited by an Indian firm in South Africa to handle their lawsuit. Gandhi had no option but to plunge into a long drawn out struggle against injustice. The Making of the Mahatma is M.K. Gandhi’s early story of experiments with truth, which gave to mankind a new weapon of liberty, the most civilized and humane. The process of transformation from Gandhi, the man, to Gandhi, the Mahatma is as exciting as it is thought provoking.”

The Making Of The Mahatma (English, 1996)

Director: Shyam Benegal
Starring: Paul Slabolepszy, Rajat Kapur, Keith Stevenson, Pallavi Joshi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a young England-educated barrister at-law, then practising in Rajkot in Kathiawad, is invited by an Indian firm in South Africa to handle their law suit. The Making of the Mahatma is M.K. Gandhi’s early story of experiments with truth, which gave to mankind a new weapon to fight for freedom from all kinds of oppression; it is also the most civilized and humane. The process of transformation from Gandhi, the man, to Gandhi, the Mahatma is as exciting as it is thought-provoking.

Veera Pandiya Kattabomman (Tamil, 1959)

Director: B. Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu
Starring: Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini,S.Varalakshmi,Ragini

After the East India Company forces Kattabomman, the king of Panchalankurichi, to pay taxes and be their subordinate, the latter decides to fight against them.

Roja (Tamil, 1992)

Director: Mani Ratnam
Starring: Arvind Swami, Madhoo

Roja, a simple girl from a village in Tamil Nadu, makes desperate efforts to find her husband, Rishi, after he is kidnapped by militants during a secret undercover mission in Jammu and Kashmir.

1971 – Beyond Borders (Malayalam, 2017)

Director: Major Ravi 
Starring: Mohanlal

After saving a Pakistani commander’s life during a UN mission, Colonel Mahadevan reveals that his father Major Sahadevan had killed the commander’s father during the 1971 India-Pakistan War.

Udayer Pathey (Bengali, 1944)

Director: Bimal Roy
Starring: Maya Basu, Biswanath Bhaduri, Radhamohan Bhattacharya 

Anup, an idealistic writer and Gopa the daughter of a rich mill owner fall in love but Gopa’s father doesn’t approve of their love so they decide to leave the fake world and walk on the path of love.

Hagalu Vesha (Kannada, 2000)

Director: Baraguru Ramachandrappa
Starring: Shiva Rajkumar

It is the story of a man who revolts against the British rule and their taxation policy.

Tango Charlie (Hindi, 2005)

Director: Mani Shankar
Starring: Ajay Devgan, Bobby Deol Tanishaa

When the war breaks out between India and Pakistan, riots erupt in North India. Later, BSF trooper Tarun and his battalion are sent to Kargil, where they face a challenge that will decide his fate.

Gandhi (Accessible) (Hindi, est sign, 1982)

Director: Richard Attenborough
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, Candice Bergen

The film spans 56 out of Gandhi’s 79 years. It starts with his days in South Africa, where Gandhi is seen as a young attorney, who is thrown out of a first class compartment in spite of having a valid ticket. Angered at this humiliation, Gandhi decides to protest for the rights of Indians and other coloured people. It is here that he meets with his first success. His fame spreads to India and he is invited to return home to take part in the freedom struggle. On arrival, he is shocked at the poverty in the country and undertakes to travel all over the country to witness, at first hand, the atrocities of the British Empire. Gandhi’s struggle to win freedom for India through his non-violent approach, his belief that men are more good than evil and his spiritual ideas all form a part of this saga, the biography of a fascinating world leader – both spiritual and political.

Chittagong (Hindi, 2012)

Director: Bedabrata Pain
Starring: Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddique, Raj Kumar, Barry John, Vijay Verma, Delzad Hiwale

In a little known event of the 1930s British occupied South Asia, a handful of untrained teenage boys and girls, led by a school teacher, handed the British their first military defeat and liberated a town from the colonial yoke for the first time in the 20th century. Set against this backdrop, Chittagong is the story of the youngest and the most unlikely participant – Jhunku Roy. A studious, diffident and frail 14 old teenager Jhunku wouldn’t even come out to play football, let alone pick up a gun. CHITTAGONG tells the incredible story of how this boy becomes a revolutionary, and having joined the rebels, battles nagging self-doubts and reluctance on one hand, and a formidable enemy on the other, to achieve an impossible triumph.Chittagong is an uplifting action-drama, made more compelling by the fact that it is true.

Khakee (Hindi, 2004)

Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

DCP Anant and his team are assigned to escort an alleged terrorist to Mumbai. However, a rogue police officer makes their task tough as he orders his men to stop them from reaching Mumbai.

Qayamat- City Under Threat (Hindi, 2003)

Director: Harry Baweja 
Starring: Ajay Devgan, Sunil Shetty, Sanjay Kapoor, Arbaaz Khan

CBI officer Akram recruits Rachit, a convict, to help save 213 tourists held hostage by three terrorists, Ali, Abbas and Laila, as he was their former associate.

Battalion 609 (Hindi, 2019)

Director: Brijesh Batuknath Tripathi
Starring: Vicky Ahuja, Shoaib Ibrahim, Elena Kazan

A verbal fight between the Indian Army and the Pakistani Army escalates and they challenge each other for a cricket match where the losing team must move their post 18 kilometres back.

Life of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (Hindi, 2004)

Live footage/NFAI

After resigning from the presidential post of the Indian National Congress, Subhas plays an important role in India’s freedom struggle during World War II.

Bapu Ne Kaha Tha (Hindi, 1962)

Director: Vijay Bhatt 
Starring: Jankidas, Jugal Kishore, Majnu

Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, affectionately known to his followers as Bapu, was a great believer in truth and gave the motto ‘Satyameva Jayate’ – Truth Always Prevails. Raju, a village boy, decides to adopt the motto. However this puts him at odds with his village folks who have forgotten the meaning and value of in truth. Can a small kid refresh the memory of an entire village and make them believe in truth again? Morarji Desai features in this film, talking to children about the childhood of Mahatma Gandhi.

Abhi Kal Ki Baat Hai (Not So Long Ago) (Hindi, 1970)

Director: Clement Baptista 

Mahatma Gandhi is considered the father of the nation. His principles of justice, truth and non-violence left a lasting impression on the world. This film aims to inspire kids towards these principles by depicting the life of Gandhi through photographs and exquisite dolls.

Heda Hoda (The Blind Camel) (Hindi, 2003)

Director: Vinod Ganatra 
Starring: Ashok Banthia, Swati Dave, Suhasini Mulay

Sonu lives with his sister Lakshmi and parents in a village in Kutch, Gujarat bordering Pakistan. One day when his father falls sick, Sonu and Lakshmi volunteer to graze the camels. During a food break, the camels drift away. Sonu goes in search only to find himself lost in the wilderness with no camel in sight. He unknowingly crosses the border and lands at herdsman Razak’s home in Pakistan. Concerned by his plight, Razak quietly takes Sonu and leaves him across the border with the promise to find and deliver his camels.

Chota Sipahi (The Little Soldier) (Hindi/English, 2004)

Director: Jayshree Kanal & A S Kanal
Starring: Om Bhutkar

Jose is a young Goan boy growing up during the freedom movement of the state in the 60s. Though young and thus expected to remain ignorant of the political winds brewing all over, he becomes acutely aware of the grave injustice everywhere and the sacrifice made by those around him. This instills in him a sense of responsibility that becomes instrumental in saving many lives during a crucial military operation

Andhra Kesari (Telugu, 1983)

Director: Vijayachander
Starring: Vijayachander, Murali Mohan, Sridhar, J.V.Ramana Murthy, Singeetam Srinivasa Rao 

Andhra Kesari is a historical Telugu film on the life of Tanguturi Prakasam.

Harun Arun (Gujarati, 2009)

Director: Vinod Ganatra
Starring: Hemang Gor, Swati Dave, Nilesh Mohite, Dhairya Gor

Harun is a Muslim boy from Pakistan. He enters India through the desert border of Kutch in Gujarat with his grandfather who is searching for his best friend. But Harun gets separated from him and is taken in by a kind Hindu family who mistake his name to be Arun – a Hindu name. Harun wins over the village with his loving charm and courage. Yet when his Pakistani roots are discovered, his intention is questioned by adults corrupted by the biases and prejudices of religion and nationality

Senani Sane Guruji (Marathi, 1995)

Director: Ramesh Deo 
Starring: Alka Athalye, Yashwant Datt, Shrikant Moghe, Nilu Phule, Navin Chehre, Paresh Mokashi

Renowned social reformer and freedom fighter, Sane Guruji was born in a poor Brahmin family. Though his mother died young, she remained a huge influence on the young Sane who completed his education against innumerable odds and became a teacher. He joined the Indian freedom movement and was jailed many times. He also fought against social evils like the caste system and women’s subjugation. Adapted from a biography of Sane Guruji by Raja Mangalvadekar, the film that has won many awards.

Spread The Light Of Freedom – Musical, 1996

An inspirational video that infuses feel of patriotism and encourages youth to keep the spirit of the country alive through well known sports stars of India.

The Flag (My India, Our India) – Musical, 1999

A film which shows the love children have for the flag of our country.

Ae Vatan Tere Liye (Hindi, 1999)

Film Division

The film recollects the historical betrayals, how the prosperous and peace loving people of India had been disturbed by incursions, terrorism and aggressions. But our patriotic jawans with the support of the Govt. and the united people of the nation have always successfully defended the country and will ever continue to do so.

Shadat (Hindi, 2001)

Film Division

The film highlights the passion for patriotism among the people of Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, where every army has dedicated atleast one member of family in defence services.

NM 552 Vande Mataram (Hindi, 2007)

Film Division

The strugle of Yesterday, the progress we are making today and our aspirations for Tomorrow are all strung on this mantra “Vande Mataram”.

Sat Sat Pranam (Hindi, 2008)

Film Division

Film based on song commemorating 150 years of war for independence.

Satyamev Jayate (Hindi, 1972)

Film Division

The film features Lata Mangeshkar’s rendering of the song `satyameva Jayate’ inter-woven with dynamic visual depicting the country’s readiness to safeguard its territorial integrity.

13 04 1919 (Hindi, 2019)

Film Division

The Film is about Jaliyanwalabagh 13.04.1919

India Independent (English, 1949)

Film Division

This film depicts India’s prolonged struggle for freedom. It recreates on the screen the history of foreign rule in India for nearly two hundred years. The story of Indian patriots, from the time of the Mutiny of 1857 (the First War of Independence) to the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi is pictorially recorded.

India Wins Freedom (English, 1985)

Film Division

Part of the Freedom Struggle film series, this film culminates with the signing of the Constitution of India, which was the realization of a ninety-year long struggle for independence. This film traces the history of evolution and framing of the Constitution of India.

We The People of India (English, 1986)

Film Division

Part of the Freedom Struggle film series, this film culminates with the signing of the Constitution of India, which was the realization of a ninety-year long struggle for independence. This film traces the history of evolution and framing of the Constitution of India.

The Flag Flies High (English, 2011)

Film Division

Film depicts the history and evolution of India National Flag.

Sardar Patel: A Nation Stands United (English, 2016)

Film Division

The Film is a tribute to the ‘Iron Man of India’for his contribution in uniting India as one Nation.

A Song Eternal (English, 1976)

Film Division

Vande Mataram is India’s song eternal. This song was written by the writer-patriot Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875; however it came to the public through the writer’s novel ‘Anand Math’ which was published in 1882. The British engineered partition of Bengal in 1905 stirred the nation to the call of Vande Mataram, saluting the Motherland – Bharat. This hymn to the Motherland was set to different melodies by great vocalists such as Vishnu Digambar Palushkar, Omkarnath Thakur, Master Krishna Rao….Vande Mataram was the song that inspired people of India to rise against imperialism.