Farhan Akhtar's film Lakshya turns 20; Hindi cinema needs a true hero like Hrithik Roshan.

Halfway through the year, Hindi cinema has already served up its share of heart-pounding, extravagant, nonsensical nationalistic films: Yodha, Fighter, and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Although the former stays on ground-level action and the latter two are all about combat in the sky, if you squint just a bit, they all blend together in a typical instance of "Potato Potahto." Nationalism is the ubiquitous potato in Hindi cinema; it can be found in many different forms and curries, but at its core, it's still the same boring potato.

In a way, the goal of these supposedly patriotic movies is to celebrate the success of Bollywood actors and their fantastical characters rather than to generate a sense of nationalism. Saving the country is not the goal; rather, it's about

Compare this to the so-called nationalistic blockbusters of today, which seem to have been written by a committee fighting to see who could yell "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" the loudest. Lakshya made its point without having to scream. It demonstrated to us the quiet, introspective nature of true patriotism. The main character of the movie, Karan (Hrithik Roshan), finds meaning in life and grows to love his nation even more as a result. Nothing theatrical or grandiose, simply an honest depiction of maturing and accepting responsibilities.

The intricacy of Farhan Akhtar's direction was a masterclass. He allowed the plot and characters to develop naturally, honoring the intelligence of the viewer. The film's realistic portrayal of military life stood in stark contrast to the excessive action scenes that are so prevalent in modern media. It

A movie called Lakshya emphasizes the idea of returning to the fundamentals, when narrative is king. Farhan Akhtar tells a story of a nation uniting via the journey of a spoilt affluent boy turned brave Army officer, demonstrating how heights are reached by a diverse, multi-cultural community rather than simply a lone hero. On the other hand, a lot of the nationalistic movies of today openly criticize Pakistan. Obviously, Pakistani soldiers are the enemy in Lakshya, which takes place during the Kargil War, yet it never goes so far as to vilify or beat up an entire country.

In a moving sequence, Amitabh Bachchan's Colonel Sunil Damle reminds Indian soldiers of their moral standards even in times of combat as they are reluctant to bury Pakistani soldiers with dignity. The movie quietly promotes religious unity by showing that neither India nor its soldiers are drawn to conflict, as seen by the portrayal of a sad and furious soldier. But when duty calls, our soldiers are steadfast and ready to fight to the very end. The movie delves deeply into the lives of actual heroes, fighting and dying in authentic ways.

Lakshya is more than just a movie; it's the much-needed component that the current Hindi cinematic patriotic genre is missing. It's a timeless classic that serves as a reminder that true heroism isn't about capes but rather about having the guts to develop and the grace to serve our country. It emphasizes personal growth, presents an authentic military portrayal, and exudes genuine patriotism.