Ikkis: All you need to know about Centurion tank Famagusta shown in Sriram Raghavan’s directorial Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat, Agastya Nanda starrer film
Famagusta was the legendry Centurion tank of the Indian Army’s Poona Horse regiment commanded by 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal during the 1971 Battle of Basantar. Through the Sriram Raghavan’s directorial film Ikkis, we get to know how he desired to become a tank commander.
At 21, Khetarpal destroyed four enemy tanks before his own caught fire, yet he continued fighting. He is India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient.
About Famagusta tank
The tank is symbol of courage, is preserved at the Armoured Corps Centre and School in Ahmednagar, India, and is mentioned in Ikkis several time by Agastya Nanda (2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal). It was in this tank that Khetarpal fought the 1971 Battle of Basantar. This British-made Centurion Mk 7 tank.is highlighted in the film several times. A British-made Centurion Mk 7 tank.
About Ikkis
Arun Khetarpal was a ‘jolly good fellow,’ and Agastya Nanda did full justice to his role. Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis shows how a youngster needs to just have fire in his belly to change the course of history. The film is honest, courageous, and most importantly, non-jingoistic. It is a human-centric war-drama that doesn’t make too much noise, and it doesn’t show random bloodshed. This film successfully cements Agastya Nanda as one of the most distinctive and unconventional new heroes to surface in Bollywood. And the way the character of Brigadier Naser (Jaideep Ahlawat) had been portrayed is absolutely brilliant.
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Lachmi Deb Roy is the Entertainment Editor of Firstpost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. She is a ‘Rotten Tomatoes’ certified critic. Her interviews are called ‘Not Just Bollywood’ because she takes a huge interest in world cinema. She has been the winner of the prestigious Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until it’s a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.
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