Independence Day 2025: 5 iconic patriotic films to watch, from Lagaan to Swades

As India marks its 79th Independence Day in 2025, it’s a time to return to stories celebrate the courage ad fight for justice. Cinema has long been a powerful way to revisit moments of history, question the present, and inspire hope for the future. From epic period dramas to contemporary tales of change, these films go beyond flag-waving—these films portray power and the will to stand up for what’s right. Here are five iconic patriotic films, from Lagaan to Swades, that remain as relevant and moving today as when they first lit up the screen.

Set in the plains of late 19th-century India, Lagaan, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, brigs together history, drama, and sport into a powerful underdog story. Under the oppressive weight of British colonial rule, a small village is crushed by exorbitant taxes. When an arrogant British officer throws down a bizarre challenge, a cricket match they’ve never played before, with freedom from taxes if they win and triple the burden if they lose—the stakes become a matter of survival. Led by the spirited Bhuvan (Aamir Khan), the villagers rally together, turning a game into a battle of courage, unity, and defiance.

In Swades, Ashutosh Gowariker crafts a deeply moving tale of homecoming and purpose. Mohan Bhargava (Shah Rukh Khan), a successful NASA scientist, returns to India to find his childhood nanny, but ends up rediscovering his roots. What begins as a personal visit transforms into a journey of awakening, as he confronts the challenges of rural life and realises that true progress isn’t measured in rockets launched, but in lives uplifted. With emotion with a call for change, the film captures the spirit of belonging and the power of one individual to make a difference.

Sattar minute...sattar minute will always echo through the years. Chak De! India is a powerful, rousing anthem of grit, redemption, and unity. Kabir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), a former hockey player, returns as coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, determined to turn a group of underdogs into champions. Through fierce training, clashing egos, and unyielding spirit, they fight for respect and victory. As he says, he can only hear one state: 'India'.

Rang De Basanti brings youthful rebellion with the fire of history, creating a story that refuses to fade. When a British filmmaker casts a group of carefree Delhi friends to portray Indian freedom fighters, the lines between past and present begin to blur. What starts as a lark turns into an awakening, as they confront corruption, injustice, and the price of change. With laughter, music, and heartbreak, the film shows the spirit of a generation unafraid to say—if you can’t change the system, shake it to its core.

Not a Bollywood film as such, directed by Richard Attenborough, Gandhi is a portrayal of the life and legacy of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the man who led India’s nonviolent struggle for independence. From his early days as a lawyer in South Africa to becoming the Mahatma who challenged an empire, the film charts his unwavering belief in truth, simplicity, and peaceful resistance.