‘Bhuj: The Pride of India' is an Indian military drama film directed by Abhishek Dudhaiya and the lead actor Ajay Devgn that recounts the tale of an Indian Air Force (IAF) Squadron Leader who rebuilds an airfield that is critical for the country in a battle against an enemy nation with the help of a group of ladies from a small village.
The film's backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pak War would undoubtedly make viewers question the film's reality. If you're keen to learn more about the movie's inspiration, True Scoop brings you the reality.
Is Bhuj: The Pride of India a True Story?
'Bhuj: The Pride of India' is, in fact, based on a true story. The film is based on the life of Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, who was crucial in the reconstruction of an IAF airfield at Bhuj, Gujarat. The 1971 Indo-Pakistani War was a complex conflict. Its origins may be traced back to India's partition, which led directly to the freedom of East Pakistan and its reformation as Bangladesh.
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During the conflict, the PAF raided the Bhuj airfield on a regular basis. PAF jets fired 14 Napalm bombs on the airfield on December 8, 1971, totally destroying it and preventing the IAF from retaliating. The airfield was rebuilt by Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, two officers, 50 IAF, and 60 Defence Security Corps (DSC) personnel.
However, because IAF only had a small number of employees on hand, the task was difficult and time-consuming. Nearly 300 individuals, primarily women from the nearby Madhapur community in Bhuj, walked forward at that point. In only three days, they worked alongside Karnik, IAF, and DSC troops to rebuild the airstrip and make it operational.
Abhishek Dudhaiya, the film's director, stated that his grandmother, Laxmi Parmar, was one among the ladies who helped restore the Bhuj airstrip. Dudhaiya grew up hearing his grandmother tell stories of the Bhuj airstrip and wants to produce a film on it to raise public awareness about the 1971 war.
Dudhaiya spoke to 60 women who were involved in the reconstruction project to create an accurate film depiction of the inspirational true story. He also spoke with Karnik and sought advice from a member of the Indian Armed Forces. Women empowerment is an underlying element of the tale, according to the filmmaker, in addition to the film's significant patriotic tone.
While the film alters certain aesthetic elements and takes cinematic liberties in depicting the remarkable actual narrative on screen, the core of patriotism remains same. ‘Bhuj: The Pride of India' pays tribute to those who stood forward when their country needed them. Most significantly, it emphasises the acts of the women, who have remained the story's unsung heroes until now.