Overview
- Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, released January 1 as a biopic of 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee.
- Early trade tracking via Sacnilk pegs day-one collections around ₹7 crore with 31.94% Hindi occupancy, led by strong turnout in Chennai and Bengaluru.
- Critics and audiences broadly praised the film’s restrained, emotional tone and especially its second half, highlighting Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat along with debutant Agastya Nanda.
- Coverage frames the film as a humanist, anti-jingoism counterpoint to contemporary patriotic releases, positioning its message of reconciliation as central.
- Reports cite a budget near ₹60 crore, and industry chatter notes the need for weekend hold against ongoing competition; production footnotes include Bobby Deol dubbing younger portions of Dharmendra’s role and a cameo by Asrani.