Sriram Raghavan Surprised by Ikkis Response

Filmmaker Sriram Raghavan has said he was surprised by the audience response to his war drama Ikkis and hopes the film finds a wider viewership after its OTT release.

Speaking at an event organised by the Screenwriters Association (SWA), Raghavan described himself as “quite baffled” by how the film was received in theatres. He expressed hope that more people would now watch it online.

Inspired by Classic War Cinema

Raghavan said Ikkis was inspired by classic international war films such as Ballad of a Soldier, Flags of Our Fathers, The Cranes Are Flying and Battle of the Bulge.

He explained that his aim was to focus on human emotions rather than just battlefield action.

According to the director, the emotional depth of the story — particularly its dual narrative structure — was what attracted him to the project.

About Ikkis

Released on January 1, Ikkis is a biographical drama based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. The film stars Agastya Nanda in the lead role.

Arun Khetarpal was martyred at the age of 21 during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

The film unfolds across two timelines. One follows Arun as a young Army officer, while the other focuses on his elderly father, who travels to Pakistan years later to understand the circumstances of his son’s final battle.

The cast also includes veteran actor Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat.

Critical Praise, Limited Footfall

While the film received positive reviews for its peace-oriented and emotional storytelling, it did not draw large audiences to cinemas.

The film has now been released on the streaming platform Prime Video, giving it a second opportunity to connect with viewers.

A New Genre for the Director

Ikkis marked Raghavan’s first venture into the war drama genre. He is widely known for thrillers such as Johnny Gaddar, Ek Haseena Thi, Andhadhun and Merry Christmas.

The director said that the layered storytelling — combining a war narrative with a personal journey — was central to his vision for the film.

With its OTT release, the filmmaker hopes that audiences will revisit the story and engage with its emotional core.