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India Today
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Haqeeqat, a war film forged in India's steely defiance in defeat
As part of our Retro Review series on Hindi films from the past, we revisit 'Haqeeqat', the epic that soothed India's pain of the 1962 Haqeeqat (1964)Cast: Balraj Sahni, Dharmendra, Priya Rajvansh, Jayant, Vijay Anand, Sanjay Khan, SudhirDirector: Chetan AnandMusic/Lyrics: Madan Mohan, Kaifi AzmiBox-office status: HitWhere to watch: YouTubeWhy to watch: For expansive, gritty war scenes shot in Ladakh, capturing both beauty and painMoral of the story: In every defeat there is a victory, even if moraladvertisement'Haqeeqat' isn't a movie. It is the template for almost every war film made in Bollywood since 1964. 'Border' is 'Haqeeqat', 'LoC-Kargil' is 'Haqeeqat', even the recent Tamil biographical film 'Amaran' (2024) is 'Haqeeqat'. Like the beginning of an era that defines everything before and after it, 'Haqeeqat' is a pivotal moment in Indian cinematic epic Indian war films follow a simple stylesheet. They introduce an ensemble, mostly young men - because war is primarily a tragedy where the old cremate their young. The narrative builds with the backstories of these men, full of dreams and hopes. Songs of love, separation and military-camp camaraderie follow as a war looms. And then there is the inevitable death. In eyeball-to-eyeball conflict with a ruthless enemy. As Chetan Anand, the director of 'Haqeeqat', told Satyajit Ray, a war film is a mosaic - of life, love, hate and death. Photo credit: IMDb advertisementIn 'Haqeeqat', Chetan Anand crafts this mosaic with philosophical beauty, creating poetry in the middle of mayhem. He layers it with poignant moments of valour and loss, lyrical songs that epitomise pain and sacrifice. And two hours of raw, intense war. With sweeping shots in black and white of Ladakh, its monstrous deserts, imposing hills and daunting streams, he captures both its horror and magnificence. If not for the inherent tragedy, 'Haqeeqat' would have made you fall in love with war. All's fair, beautiful and horrifying in SCRIPTA lost war, like personal grief, is impossible to revisit. Its humiliation cuts like a shard. Its pain haunts like a silent ghost. So, it was bold of Chetan Anand, the eldest of the Anand brothers, to make a film on India's loss in the 1962 Sino-Indian war. And that too, when the wound was so raw that it was tantamount to sprinkling salt over Anand picks up the defiant resolution of a handful of soldiers to showcase bravery, underlining valour even in retreat, defeat and death. Loosely inspired by the battle of Rezzang La, 'Haqeeqat' shows the heroic last stand of Indian soldiers outnumbered by the Chinese at forward posts in Ladakh. (Much like the battle of Longewala immortalised in JP Dutta's 'Border').advertisementThe battle of Rezzang La was fought by 13 Kumaon, led by Major Shaitan Singh, on November 18, 1962 at 16,000 feet in freezing conditions. On being confronted by the Chinese, who crept up on them before dawn, the 120-140 Indian soldiers fought for five hours, literally to the last man. Major Singh, who sustained multiple gunshots, refused to fall back. For his bravery, Major Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military employs the flashforward-flashack narrative that has become the hallmark of such movies. He traces the 1962 tragedy through several sub-plots that finally converge. The film's main arc follows Major Ranjit Singh (Balraj Sahni), whose soldiers have been forced to retreat. To help him evacuate, Captain Bahadur Singh (Dharmendra) fights a heroic battle. In the climactic moments, a local girl - Anand's lifelong muse Priya Rajvansh - joins Bahadur Singh in a till-do-us-part pact. Photo credit: IMDb But 'Haqeeqat' is also a political film. It captures India's disgust with China for the unexpected, brutal war. In one scene, Balraj Sahni rails against Chinese treachery. 'We lobbied for them on international platforms. We followed the five principles of peace. We rolled out the red carpets for their visiting leaders (Chinese premier Zhou Enlai); we even asked them to decorate our soldiers for bravery. And, they put bullets in the chest of the same soldier.' His diatribe is amplified by real footage, lending a docudrama edge to the another, Sahni's character spits disdainfully as a Chinese soldier repeats ad nauseam, 'Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai.' To show his rage against the back-stabbing Chinese, a soldier thrusts his bayonet into Mao Zedong's Little Red Book, the ideological Bible of Communist pride was hurt by the defeat in the two-theatre war in Ladakh and NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh). Unprepared for high-terrain battles, soldiers were cut down by the Chinese, forcing a retreat and surrender. 'Haqeeqat' stands out because it is cathartic. Its central message of defiance in defeat still AS DEFIANCEIn his epic 'Dr Zhivago', Boris Pasternek describes art as spiritual defiance. India's humiliating loss in 1962 produced two of the greatest calls for defiance in Indian music's history. Lata Mangeshkar's 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon,' and Mohammad Rafi's 'Kar Chale Hum Fida' - 'Haqeeqat's' swan lot has been written about Lata Mangeshkar's 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon'- a song that starts like a dirge and roars like a revolution. Some day we will revisit the legacy of its writer Kavi Pradeep and composer C now, watan ke logon, remember Rafi, Madan Mohan and Kaifi Azmi for their greatest contribution to cinema.'Haqeeqat' ends with the defiant words of Kaifi Azmi, 'Kar Chale Hum Fida'. Its patriotic fervour rivals 'Mera Rang De Basanti'- the song Bhagat Singh sings to the gallows in 'Shaheed' (1965). Each line is steeped in sacrifice and valour - stirring thamti gayi, nabz jamti gayiPhir bhi badhte kadam ko na rukne diyaKat gaye sar hamare to kuchh gham nahinSar himalay ka humne na jhukne diyaMarte marte raha baankpan saathiyon Kaifi's words soar like the Himalayas in Mohammad Rafi's voice, lifting the spirit like an anthem of the undefeated. In the background, Madan Mohan arranges a feast of light strings that start on a sombre note and then explode with violins and brass instruments that go to war. A fitting requiem for the brave, a symphony of resilience, a daring invite to the embrace of like 'Haqeeqat', this isn't just a song. It is a declaration of India's steely resolve - bent but not broken. Photo credit: IMDb PS: In 1965, after the war with Pakistan, Kaifi Azmi wrote a poem inspired by the Bhagavad Gita. It appears in Chetan Anand's 'Hindustan Ki Kasam' (worth watching, but for the poor print), as an ode to the role of the Indian Air Force in the 1971 India is in the throes of a conflict, Kaifi Azmi's lines are worth remembering:Whether a war is a blessing or a curse,Don't ask this question now,Now that it has been thrust upon usA war can only be a blessing!
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Time of India
Sunday Read: Hacker-proofing hacks
cybersecurity measures Information verification Encrypted communication Social media safety Password management The public is urged to exercise caution with online information, boost digital hygiene, and prepare for emergencies and protect themselves and families from cyber attacks –Chetan Anand, National Cybersecurity Scholar In response to escalating cyber threats, the Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC), in collaboration with National Cyber Security Scholars, has released a new advisory outlining practical. The advisory aims to offer actionable best practices to help individuals and organisations prevent attacks and mitigate their impact.'Given the critical situation the country is facing, it is a matter of immense commitment that our National Cyber Security Scholars have stepped up and volunteered to provide this cyber security advisory,' said Group Captain Aanand Naidu Pola (Retd) Executive Director, ISAC. Chetan Anand, National Cybersecurity Scholar and Cyber Crime Intervention Officer said the advisory addresses emerging cyber threats targeting individuals, networks, and critical infrastructure. 'The public is urged to exercise caution with online information, boost digital hygiene, and prepare for emergencies and protect themselves and families from cyber attacks,' he advisory stresses the importance of verifying all information related to the ongoing conflict, especially content that involves the armed forces, terrorist activities, or government advisories. Citizens are warned against blindly trusting WhatsApp forwards, suspicious links, and PDFs circulated through instant messaging apps. 'There is a high chance of misinformation and psychological propaganda aimed at causing panic or demoralising the public and armed forces,' the advisory states. To combat fake news and disinformation, citizens are encouraged to fact-check before forwarding or sharing any message. Perplexity AI has launched a fact-checking WhatsApp chatbot where users can forward questionable content to +1 (833) 436-3285 for people are urged to install official government apps like NDMA's Sachet and MyGov- and also diaster warning apps and first responder in offline maps from Google Maps to prepare for potential communication outages. In terms of communication and data security, the advisory recommends using encrypted messengers such as Signal, Bridgefy, and CopConnect to ensure private and secure communication, especially during network are also advised to store sensitive documents—such as ID proofs, digital health records, and bank data—on encrypted USB drives or secure cloud services, with strong passwords safeguarding media users have been cautioned to avoid engaging with unverified influencers or handles that might spread falsehoods. It is advised to keep handy the social media handles of local police station/ Police commissioner law enforcement to report disruptive posts. Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or QR codes, and refrain from forwarding and clicking suspicious or unknown advisory places particular emphasis on password management, advocating the use of good offline password managers in place such as KeePass or PasswordSafe instead of online alternatives vulnerable to breaches. It recommends using different passwords for each platform and updating them frequently. Employees in government and critical infrastructure sectors have been strongly advised to immediately change their banking and email passwords to minimize damage from potential cyber security is another critical area. Users are asked to remove unnecessary and unused apps and content, keep operating systems and apps updated with the latest security patches, Enable access control (fingerprint/PIN/password), and protect their devices with licenced antivirus software. Keep away from the banned appsUsers are advised to stay away from free Wi-Fi available in public places. Connect to a corporate network using VPN, if available. Avoid sharing wi-fi or hotspots with the possibility of power and network failures, users are urged to conserve battery by turning off non-essential features like Wi-Fi and hotspot when not in use, using solar chargers or power banks, and limiting social media and streaming are urged to avoid scanning QR codes in unfamiliar places, rely only on official payment apps like BHIM, PhonePe etc with added access controls such as PIN or biometrics, and keep limited cash reserves at home to fall back on during digital disruptions. Use offline banking and UPI options cautiously.-For emergency preparedness, the public is asked to maintain medical prescriptions, stock essential medications, keep emergency contacts written down, and store health insurance documents.'Citizens should pre-identify safe assembly areas within their communities and practice mindfulness to stay calm and alert,' reads the residing near military zones must act responsibly and refrain from sharing any digital content or social media updates related to troop researchers and professionals working in critical infrastructure sectors must exercise heightened digital vigilance to safeguard sensitive case of cybercrime, individuals are advised to report incidents via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal ( or call the helpline 1930, apart from visiting their local police station.
