Pathaan‘s release couldn’t have come up on a better day to add to the pre-existing catalogue of Shah Rukh Khan patriotic films. With Republic Day in sight, we’re here to celebrate not only the love for the nation, but also how the one of the biggest names in the Indian film industry has portrayed the same on the mainstream big screen.
Avid watchers of Khan’s films are well aware of the ample number of movies he’s been a part of that have one way or another underlined a sense of patriotism or have represented India on the big stage. Here are some of those movies that are rich in patriotic fervour and also pack in some action sequences or a mix of drama we keep going back to time and again.
Shah Rukh Khan Patriotic Films To Up Your Love for the Nation
Pathaan
In a recent wave of Pathaan promotions, the titular film star took to his Twitter account to ensue a new round of #AskSRK, where he directly tackles the themes involved in the making of the highly anticipated blockbuster. His reply is clean and precise, “#Pathaan is also very patriotic..but in an action way,” which means that we may get to witness a new series of action-packed blazing scenes on the big screen this month. A short inkling of the same was featured years ago in one of the most iconic rickshaw scenes from Main Moon Na (2004).
The latest forthcoming title will expand upon this image and pack a major punch of patriotic delights, as has also been teased with its trailer coming to a bang-on close with Khan’s dialogue, “Jai Hind”, which is still ringing in our ears, weeks after the trailer launch.
Although the teaser showed him in a similar light as his previous character Don, the trailer has confirmed that he’s India’s best hope at defeating the ‘Outfit X’. The exiled patriot is the most sought after answer for the nation in these fictional dire times.
Coming out to theatres on January 25, 2023!
Chak De India
Irrespective of how many times you’ve already watched this epic sports drama flick, one can’t help but come back to relive the utter magic it holds within. Among the many reasons of its success to date, Khan’s legendary delivery of the ‘Satar Minute’ (Seventy Minutes) speech featured in the final arc of the duration immensely inspired not only the players present in the locker room, but also the audiences sitting outside the fourth wall.
Following the track of one of the most beloved theatrical motifs – the rise of the underdog team – Chak De India became an Indian pop-culture phenomenon after its release in 2007, so much so, that fans still crave for a sports movie to be as well made as this one. Kabir Khan, the former India captain attempts to make his breakthrough comeback after a controversial spark following the defeat of the team against Pakistan. Tagged as a “traitor” against his nation, he gathers momentum years later to form a notable Indian women’s hockey team despite the oppositions of the association.
His challenges never seem to cease. As soon as the players start trickling in to the capital from varying cultural, social and religious backgrounds of the country, his new trail puts him to test on his way to uniting them all under the one big roof of the Indian team.
Swades
Directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar, Swades starring Shah Rukh Khan and Gayatri Joshi in the lead roles came out in 2004 and has somehow remained one of the most stellar performances while simultaneously staying back as an underrated gem. Playing the role of Mohan, Khan’s initial journey is focussed on his expatriate roots while working with NASA. Worrying about his nanny, Kaveri Amma, the last remaining familial link after his parents’ death, he heads back to India in order to track her. Upon reaching the homeland, he becomes a beacon for reform in a village.
Except other films in this list, Swades doesn’t track a dynamic route to patriotism, but is possibly one of the most direct and genuine expressions for the same. Treading on a more nuanced, calm and collected way to voice the love for one’s country, it also takes Khan’s acting persona to newer heights. It’s streaming on Netflix.
Main Hoon Na
Now this was a masala flick indeed. Back in the day, when Farah Khan and SRK were the most sough after Bollywood duo, this 2004 movie starring Zayed Khan, Kirron Kher, Sushmita Sen, Suniel Shetty and Amrita Rao made all of our hearts swoon. Coming back to the iconic rickshaw stunt that stole all of India’s hearts, Main Moon Na became a household phenomena, as the actor donning Major Ram’s poise went undercover as a college student to protect General Bakshi’s daughter from Shetty’s antagonistic goals in the bigger picture.
Who can forget Shah Rukh Khan jumping off the college rooftop to save Zayed Khan’s Lakshman, aka his brother in yet another breathtaking moments of the film. It’s almost as if this were an alternate modern adaptation of the Indian mythology itself, with Major Ram posing as the dutiful son, brother, friend and soldier of the nation. Watch the Bollywood blockbuster on Netflix.
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
Dil Se..
Happy New Year too puts India on the map with SRK’s team consisting of Boman Irani, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Vivaan Shah and others competing for the World Dance Championship. However, since the heist flick has its ulterior motives set in sight, it’s not your typical representative addition for this category. Additionally, the period crime drama, Hey Ram starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role, and Khan’s special appearance is yet another interesting and thought-proving title, but it takes up an alternate route to address the vision of India’s Partition.
The upcoming Jawan has also sparked our intrigue, as its title teases a similar trajectory as the some of the movies listed above. Furthermore, Khan’s Dunki, a project with Rajkumar Hirani, though may not follow an overtly patriotic theme, it too, is centred around “a story of people who want to come back home” and “is a big journey film” which “goes through different areas around the world and finally comes back home to India”, as stated by the actor.
Which of these is your favourite go-to SRK patriotic film? Are you waiting in line to watch Pathaan in theatres just like us? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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