'Ikkis' reviews and X reactions: 'Rare' Bollywood war movie by Sriram Raghavan 'stuns you' with Arun Khetarpal's story, say users

Sriram Raghavan’s biographical war-drama 'Ikkis' hit theatres on Thursday. A retelling of the glorious story of the ‘Battle of Basantar’ from the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, it is the last film featuring Bollywood legend Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24. 

READ HERE | Who was Arun Khetarpal? ‘Ikkis’ is based on real-life story of ‘Battle of Basantar’ hero

'Ikkis', meaning 21 in Hindi, hints at the age of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the protagonist of the movie, when he made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland. In his portrayal of the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, Agastya Nanda has reportedly met expectations, with early reviews on X indicating he did justice to the significant role.

ALSO READ | Which tank did 'Ikkis' hero Arun Khetarpal use to destroy Pakistani Patton tanks in Basantar? 5 Centurion MBT facts

Here are a few initial reports about ‘Ikkis’ that have popped up on the microblogging site since January 1 morning:

"#Ikkis has a few rough edges, but they don't dilute its overall impact... The romantic track acts as a speed breaker, disrupting the otherwise taut narrative... The songs leave a limited impression, though the background score effectively elevates key moments," jotted one user, who called the film "a heartfelt true story told with honesty..."

"Such a sensitive war film in our times is no less than a miracle. Still cannot believe #SriramRaghavan made such huge scale film. The cast delivers, so well crafted, emotions hit & makes you think. A film that will be remembered for a long time," another happy moviegoer said.

"Ikkis stuns you, numbs you, thrills you, and fills your heart with pride," another user wrote.

"#Ikkis is solid, but most importantly, it's a rare Bollywood movie that doesn't use the war biopic template for easy jingoism," a third opined.

"#Ikkis feels grounded, relatable, and sincere. That realism hits harder than fiction," another user said.

Promising a detailed review later, a user said, "Movie has the real background, but overall it's neither in the current mood of the cinemagoers nor is the execution of the storyline at the right pace. It seems slow... Will write a detailed review later, but 3 stars for me..."

"Strong content and performances, yet low youth-centric entertainment restrict its commercial prospects i strongly feel," another shared.