Ikkis Movie Review: Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat shine in a war film that lacks Sriram Raghavan’s usual edge

Ikkis marks the last on-screen appearance of Dharmendra

• Ikkis shifts Sriram Raghavan from thrillers to war drama with uneven results
• Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat deliver standout performances
• Agastya Nanda's lead role lacks conviction and emotional impact

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'Ikkis,' directed by Sriram Raghavan, released in theatres on 1st January and stars Agastya Nanda, Simar Bhatia, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher, Rahul Dev and the late Dharmendra.

A director steps outside his comfort zone

‘Ikkis’ marks a clear departure from the kind of cinema Sriram Raghavan is best known for. Stepping away from his trademark mystery thrillers, the director enters war drama territory, blending it with romance. The shift is evident, but the result is uneven. While the film attempts to look at war from a slightly different angle, it lacks the sharp control and narrative bite that define Raghavan’s strongest work. There are stretches where the storytelling meanders, but thanks to the presence of the late Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat, that keeps the film engaging enough to sit through.

Romance, music and a faltering lead

The film also exposes Raghavan’s discomfort with romantic storytelling. The love scenes feel tentative and slacken the pace, while the placement of three songs in quick succession only adds to the drag. By the time the film reaches its climax, the sound design turns overpowering, with the roar of tanks becoming more distracting than immersive. Yet, the bigger disappointment comes from Agastya Nanda, who struggles to rise to the demands of the role. There is a quiet intensity in his eyes, but it never fully translates into conviction. The fire and urgency expected from the character remain largely absent.

Two timelines, one legacy

‘Ikkis’ unfolds through two parallel narratives that eventually intersect. One follows Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (Agastya Nanda), whose bravery during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 India-Pakistan War earned him recognition and a posthumous Param Vir Chakra. The other centres on his father, retired Brigadier ML Khetarpal (Dharmendra), who visits Pakistan three decades later for a college reunion and remains a guest of Brigadier Naseer (Jaideep Ahlawat) from the Pakistani Army in Lahore. The film portrays Arun as an exceptional student, driven by discipline and an uncompromising need to excel. After his schooling in Delhi, he joins the NDA in 1967, quickly rising to become Cadet Captain of Foxtrot Squadron. The early portions focus on his academy life, the rigours of training, and the moment when preparation gives way to the reality of war.

Sporadic brilliance

Despite its two-and-a-half-hour runtime, ‘Ikkis’ rarely feels absorbing. Expectations were naturally high with Raghavan at the helm, but the film only flashes its brilliance sporadically. The use of classic songs evokes the mood of the 1970s and quietly pays tribute to lyricist Rajendra Krishan, a familiar style in Raghavan’s cinema. Yet here, these elements feel more ornamental than integral. The film often seems hurried, unwilling to sit with its most important moments, and it ends up blending into a genre already crowded with similar war narratives.

Dharmendra and Jaideep save the film

Performances are where the film finds some footing. Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat bring warmth and gravitas, and their scenes together form the emotional core of the film. There is an ease and affection between them that feels lived-in, as if two credible actors from different generations are meeting on shared ground. Dharmendra, in particular, delivers a deeply humane performance, moving away from his action-hero image and embracing vulnerability. In contrast, Agastya Nanda’s performance remains inconsistent. Moments that demand emotional release, especially a scene involving the death of a fellow soldier, feel restrained to the point of emptiness. He fares better in quieter, vulnerable passages but never fully commands the screen. The supporting cast does much of the heavy lifting, with Sikandar Kher, Vivaan Shah, and Rahul Dev making strong impressions. Simar Bhatia, as Arun’s love interest Kiran, makes a confident debut.

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‘Ikkis’ is watchable but far from compelling. It honours the courage of Arun Khetarpal, yet the battlefield sequences meant to capture his heroism lack the impact they promise. What lingers instead are Ahlawat and Dharmendra’s scenes, particularly the Lahore college reunion, which carries genuine emotional weight. His interactions with Ahlawat, marked by tenderness and restraint, stand out as the film’s most affecting moments. ‘Ikkis’ ultimately feels like a film that shines in fragments but never fully comes together.

Rating: 3/5