Dharma Co-owner Karan Johar on Tuesday announced the upcoming movie Ae Watan Mere Watan's release date. On World Radio Day, Karan Johar took to his official Instagram handle and shared the first look of Sara Alia Khan in the movie titled Ae Watan Mere Watan. Sharing the video, Karan Johar wrote, "Hindustan mein kahi se laaye hai aap ke liye ek zaroori samachar #WorldRadioDay pe." Ae Watan Mere Watan will be released on Amazon Prime Video on March 21, 2024, and it features Sara Ali Khan in the lead roles. Apart from Sara Alia Khan, Bollywood actor Emran Hashmi will be making a cameo in the movie. Notably, the movie's storyline has been kept under wraps till the trailer gets released, but going by the first look, it can be said that Ae Watan Mere Watan is set in the timeline of pre-British independence era. Now, the question arises whether Ae Watan Mere Watan is a true story or Ae Watan Mere Watan is a real story or not. Below is everything you need to know about Ae Watan Mere Watan's True Story-
Is Ae Watan Mere Watan a true story?
The answer is yes. As per reports, Ae Watan Mere Watan which is made under the banner of Dharma Production is a true story based on India's freedom fighter Usha Mehta. Reports suggest that Ae Watan Mere Watan is a biographical drama, however, it is not confirmed whether Sara Ali Khan's upcoming movie is based on a book titled 'Congress Radio: Usha Mehta and the Underground Radio Station of 1942 by Usha Thakkar'. The book was reportedly published in 2021 by Penguin India and it is the story of a 22-year-old woman who created a pirate radio station to fight British colonial rule. Talking about Emran Hashmi's role in Ae Watan Mere Watan's True Story, the actor will reportedly be essaying the role of socialist political leader Ram Manohar Lohia.
Who was Usha Mehta?
Usha Mehta was a Surat-born, Indian freedom fighter who used radio to propagate messages of India's freedom struggle from British rule. As per the information available, she was a Gandhian and freedom fighter of India. She is also remembered for organizing the Congress Radio, also called the Secret Congress Radio, an underground radio station, which functioned for a few months during the Quit India Movement of 1942. In 1998, the Government of India conferred on her Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
Furthermore, on 14 August 1942, Usha and some of her close associates began the Secret Congress Radio. It went on air on 27 August. The first words broadcast in her voice were, "This is the Congress radio calling on 42.34 meters from somewhere in India." Her associates included Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, Babubhai Thakkar and Nanka Motwani, owner of Chicago Radio, who supplied equipment and provided technicians. Many other leaders, including Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia also assisted Usha in her journey.
To evade the British Police, Usha, and the organizers moved the station's location almost daily. However, the police found them on 12 November 1942 and arrested the organizers, including Usha Mehta.
Usha Mehta was interrogated for six months and during her time in prison she was kept in solitary confinement and offered inducements such as the opportunity to study abroad if she would betray the movement. However, she chose to remain silent and, during her trials, asked the Judge of the High Court whether she was required to answer the questions. Due to her silence and bowing down to the British, Usha Mehta was sentenced to four years or prison.