After months of ministry hurdles and title changes, Apoorva Lakhia's film finally clears the CBFC. Theatres get it in three weeks.
<p>The trailer is out. The date is set. After a year of false starts — April, then Independence Day weekend, then silence, <strong>Maatrubhumi: May War Rest In Peace</strong> finally has a theatrical landing strip: December 4.</p><p>Salman Khan dropped the cut on social media Wednesday evening with his signature deadpan: <q>Aaj release karoon ya kal?
Jo kal kare so aaj kar, Jo aaj kare so ab. Enjoy the trailer….#Maatrubhumi out now.</q> The Central Board of Film Certification cleared the promo earlier that day. He had teased the drop that same morning, promising it would arrive by evening.</p><p>Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film began life as <em>Battle Of Galwan</em>.
It dramatises the 2020 hand-to-hand clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. Khan portrays Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment. The narrative follows his leadership along the Line of Actual Control and his eventual sacrifice.</p><p>The project hit a wall long before post-production.
Defence Ministry objections over the subject, the content and explicit references to China stalled the release plan. Diplomatic temperatures between New Delhi and Beijing were rising at the time. ABP Live reports the revised version now aims to present India-China relations in a positive light, a notable pivot for a war film built on a deadly border skirmish.</p><p>Supporting cast includes Mukesh Rishi, Ankur Bhatia, Zeyn Shaw and Abhilash Chaudhary as fellow officers.
Vijay Raaz supplies the narration. Chitrangda Singh also features, though her role remains under wraps.</p><p>Three weeks to release. The marketing machine now has a hard deadline. December 4 will tell whether the ministry's notes and the title change, <em>Maatrubhumi: May War Rest In Peace</em> carries a very different tone from <em>Battle Of Galwan</em>, have dulled the edge or simply repackaged it for a wider corridor.</p>
Be the first to comment
Join the argument. No password, just your email or a passkey.