Indian Republic Day: 12 Bollywood films to watch to celebrate the spirit

'Kesari': Directed by Anup Singh, ‘Kesari’ is based on a true story that chronicles the Battle of Saragarhi where a group of 21 men from the 36th Sikhs infantry regiment of the British Indian Army battle 10,000 invaders. Akshay Kumar plays braveheart Havaldar Ishar Singh. Catch it on Amazon Prime Video.

'Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran': Bollywood actor and producer John Abraham delves into the intricate world of modern warfare. Set in 1998, the film takes a look at how India conducted three underground nuclear tests in a remote part of Rajasthan and declared to the world that it has nuclear weapons. Abraham plays Ashwat Rana, who spearheads the secret mission. Watch it on Netflix.

'Pardes': This 1997 classic directed by showman Subhash Ghai (who incidentally celebrates his birthday today), may not be about fighting wars or winning medals to celebrate a patriotic spirit, but rather shows you to carry India in your heart wherever life takes you. Shah Rukh Khan and Mahima Chaudhry star in the film that takes a look at the life of westernised NRIs and whether they are losing the traditional values while living away from India. Catch it on Zee5.

'Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl': Janhvi Kapoor may have received criticism for her role as Gunjan Saxena, but it doesn’t take away from the film, which is all heart. The Netflix film explores the struggle faced by the first Indian woman IAF officer who entered a war zone, which wouldn’t have been possible without the help of her father, played in the film by Pankaj Tripathi.

'Swades': An absolute classic that truly hits home for those who live out of India. Shah Rukh Khan stars in this Ashutosh Gowariker-directed film. In it, he plays a 48-year-old Non-Resident Indian (NRI) working at Nasa, who is torn between his coveted job in the US and a need to settle in India for his family and his country.

'Lagaan': Another gem by Aamir Khan, this 2001 film was India’s one hope to win the Oscars and even though it didn’t win the coveted trophy, ‘Lagaan’ won hearts. Set in the 1800s, the film chronicles the struggles of the harshly taxed villagers of Champaner who are embroiled in a high-stakes cricket match against the British. Watch it on Netflix.

'Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani': Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawala are endearing in this comedy, which released in 2000. While the film didn’t achieve much commercial success, it did win fans as the lead pair play two bickering journalists who put everything aside to seek justice for a father whose daughter is raped by a politician. Catch it on Netflix.

'Chak De! India': If you ever need a film to inspire, this is it. Shah Rukh Khan plays Kabir Khan, a former hockey star, who falls from grace and is labelled as someone who betrayed his country. However, he begins coaching the Indian women’s national hockey team to prove his loyalty to the nation.

'Rang De Basanti': This Aamir Khan classic, released in 2006, sees a group of idealistic college kids who take on the system when one of their own is killed. Following in the footsteps of Indian freedom fighters, the friends turn rebels with a cause.

'Lakshya': One of Hrithik Roshan’s most memorable films, this 2004 production sees the actor play Karan, a young man with no purpose in life. Karan joins the Indian Army on a whim but backs out when he finds a soldier’s life to be difficult. When this creates conflict with his girlfriend, he rejoins to make her proud.

'Saina': The biopic on badminton star Saina Nehwal’s life features Parineeti Chopra in the titular role, following a small-town girl who dreams big to represent her country on a global stage. Her story of grit and determination is as patriotic as it comes.

'Sui Dhaaga – Made in India': This heart-warming tale of pride and self-reliance follows the lives of Mauji (Varun Dhawan) and Mamta (Anushka Sharma) who struggle to set up their own garment business. Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.