# Sriram Raghavan Breaks Silence on *Ikkis* Backlash: "Those Objecting Probably Haven't Seen the Film" **Imagine this:** A critically acclaimed war drama earns praise for its nuanced storytelling, only to ignite a firestorm over a single end-credits disclaimer. That's the rollercoaster ride of *Ikkis*, Sriram Raghavan's latest directorial venture, and now the filmmaker is finally speaking out.[1][2][4] Directed by the mastermind behind thrillers like *Andhadhun*, *Ikkis* is a biographical drama based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Starring debutant Agastya Nanda as Khetarpal, alongside Dharmendra in his final on-screen role and Jaideep Ahlawat as a compassionate Pakistani brigadier, the film blends intense tank battles with themes of humanity amid conflict. It received strong critical acclaim for its technical prowess and emotional depth but faced modest box office returns of ₹41.65 crore.[3][4] The spark? A controversial disclaimer at the film's close, which reads: "The humane behaviour of Pakistani Brigadier K. M. Sisar is only an exceptional incident. Otherwise, our neighbouring country is not trustworthy at all. Pakistan's armies... have behaved very cruelly... Jai Hind." This stark message clashed with the film's subtle anti-war tone, especially Ahlawat's praised portrayal of a humane enemy officer, dividing netizens and sparking debates on "jingoism" in Indian cinema.[1][2][3] In recent interviews, Raghavan has addressed the backlash head-on. He admits he was "not happy" with the disclaimer, calling it a producer-driven decision beyond his full control—much like an unwanted music video tacked onto his 2015 film *Badlapur* by the same producer, Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films.[1][2][4] "He's a superb guy; he let me make this film and helped me immensely. But the disclaimer was not something I was happy with personally," Raghavan told The Wire.[1] The director was "quite baffled" by the uproar, revealing that the script was vetted by the Indian Army years ago with positive feedback. He suspects much of the criticism stems from misunderstanding: "Those who are objecting probably haven't seen the film... Now that it's out, I hope they watch it—then I will respond."[4][5][6] Raghavan even recalled early concerns shared with Vijan, who dismissed them: "The boy goes and destroys their tanks, the father goes and forgives. So what?"[4][5] As *Ikkis* gears up for its OTT premiere on Prime Video, this controversy could boost viewership, highlighting tensions between artistic intent and commercial pressures in Bollywood war films.[3]
*Image: Battlefield tank warfare, capturing the intensity of Ikkis (Unsplash free stock photo)*
Citations
1.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sriram-raghavan-admits-he-wasnt-happy-with-ikkis-disclaimer-calling-pakistan-not-at-all-trustworthy-cites-badlapur-changes-as-example/articleshow/128678454.cms
2.https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/ikkis-director-sriram-raghavan-says-he-was-not-happy-with-films-pakistan-not-trustworthy-disclaimer-11123821
3.https://www.ottplay.com/news/ikkis-controversy-director-sriram-raghavan-admits-he-was-unhappy-with-hardline-end-credits-note/ad5557eb3b27
4.https://www.news18.com/movies/bollywood/ikkis-director-sriram-raghavan-reacts-to-backlash-says-film-was-misunderstood-people-should-watch-it-first-ws-kl-9933837.html
5.https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/features/insight/sriram-raghavan-was-baffled-by-response-to-ikkis-many-objected-without-even-watching-the-film
6.https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ikkis-director-sriram-raghavan-was-quite-baffled-by-response-to-agastya-nanda-film-i-hope-people-will-watch-it-on-ott-101772201374095.html
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