Films based on the Independence Movement

The Independence movement had a profound impact on the Indian film industry, which began not long after India earned freedom and has led to the creation of numerous everlasting epics.On this Independence Day, DH brings to you 7 essential films which channel the spirit of the Freedom struggle:

Based around the infamous Cellular Jail of the British Raj in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 'Kaaalapani' dealt with the life of prisoners who were sent there for participating in the Freedom struggle. It earned multiple national awards.

Written by noted author and playwright Vijay Tendulkar, 'Sardar' was a film chronicling the fighting days of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, complete with his famous handling of the troubled merger of the Princely states of Kashmir, Junagadh and Hyderabad into India.

'Gandhi' has the unique position of being the only film set around the Indian independence movement to have been nominated for, and won, Academy Awards. Starring Ben Kinglsey - who is part Indian - the film chronicled the life of MK Gandhi from the famous train incident all the way to his assassination at the hands of Godse.

'Mangal Pandey: The Rising' chronicled the origins of the failed 1857 freedom struggle, when rumours surround ammunition of weapons resulted in Mangal Pandey leading a revolt against the British army, which led to his hanging.

Starring Darshan as Kittur Rani Chennamma's famous army chief, 'Sangoli Rayanna' was a highly well-received Kannada film centered around Karnataka's contribution to the freedom struggle.

Perhaps the most powerful film in the list, 'Rang De Basanti' channeled the freedom struggle into the life of modern-day youth, who lost a friend to corruption and were faced with insurmountable odds in their attempts to attain justice for him. It drew heavy parallels with the revolutionaries who adopted violent means to attain justice when all other doors were shut to them.