The war drama, inspired by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, will open in theatres on December 4, clashing with Shraddha Kapoor's Eetha.
Salman Khan’s long-delayed war drama Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace will finally hit theatres on December 4. The announcement came during a trailer launch event in Mumbai, where the superstar confirmed the date after years of postponements.
The film, originally titled Battle of Galwan, is inspired by the deadly clashes in eastern Ladakh in June 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian Army personnel. Salman plays Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, a soldier from the 16 Bihar Regiment who died in the conflict. The movie marks Apoorva Lakhia’s directorial debut and has been under production since 2021.
Delays were attributed to the need for flawless visual effects. "Today, there are a lot of VFX experts out there who examine each and every shot," Salman said. "We don’t want anyone to zoom in and criticise it. We want this film to visually blow everyone's mind."
The release follows a pattern set by recent blockbusters — Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal, Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2, and Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, all of which opened in early December. Maatrubhumi now joins them, positioning itself as a high-stakes winter contender.
But it won’t be alone. The film faces direct competition from Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha, a biopic about legendary Lavani and Tamasha dancer Vithabai Narayangaonkar. Directed by Laxman Utekar, Eetha stars Randeep Hooda, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Siddharth Jadhav, Ishtiyak Khan, and Anant Joshi.
The film’s first teaser dropped on Salman’s 60th birthday last December. It drew criticism from China’s Global Times, which called it a "cinematic exaggeration" and accused it of distorting facts. An Indian government source responded by citing historical precedents like Haqeeqat (1964) and 120 Bahadur, arguing that cinema remains a form of artistic expression.
With its December 4 release, Maatrubhumi enters a crowded theatrical window. Whether it can stand out amid the holiday rush, and withstand scrutiny over its portrayal of a real-life military tragedy, will be the next chapter.
The film’s final stretch is now underway. The question isn’t if it will release, but how it will land.
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