If you’re scrolling through Amazon Prime Video wondering whether Ikkis is worth your time, here’s my honest take: it’s one of those rare war films that doesn’t assault you with hyper-patriotic fanfare and booming background scores but instead tries to feel its way into your heart.
At its core, Ikkis is a story about loss and humanity, not just medals and battlefield glory. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, who’s typically associated with taut thrillers, this is such a departure that it occasionally feels like you’re watching a different filmmaker trying on a new suit — some parts fit beautifully, others a bit awkwardly.
The film follows the real-life tale of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal — one of India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra recipients — and then shifts decades later to his elderly father’s journey into Pakistan, where an unexpected meeting with the officer who fought him brings forth raw, unfiltered emotion. It’s a bold structure that sometimes feels uneven, but more often than not it earns its quiet, somber tone.
Performances are where Ikkis truly soars. Dharmendra, in what has now become a poignant final screen appearance, anchors the film with a gentle gravitas that’s impossible to ignore. He doesn’t just act grief — he embodies it. Watching him interact with Jaideep Ahlawat’s equally composed and dignified performance is perhaps the emotional spine of the movie.
Newcomer Agastya Nanda (as Arun) does a serviceable job: sincere and earnest, but he doesn’t quite match the depth of the seasoned veterans around him — yet. There’s something promising about his screen presence, even if he doesn’t steal the show.
What I appreciated most was that Ikkis doesn’t treat you like you need patriotic goosebumps shouted at you. It gently asks questions about what war does to people — to the ones who fight them, and to those who wait, years later, to reckon with their ghosts. It’s humanist without being preachy, reflective without being dull.
Yes, the pacing meanders in stretches, and a few narrative and musical choices don’t land as well as they should. But that’s part of its unpolished charm. It feels like a film that wants you to sit with it — not just watch it and move on.
Bottom line: If you’re in the mood for something that breaks the mold of the usual big‑bang Bollywood war spectacle — something quieter, more thoughtful, and emotive — Ikkis delivers that in spades. Just don’t expect a roller coaster; expect a slow, heartfelt journey that lingers longer than you think it will.
