This Independence Day, we take you on a journey through Indian cinema — a journey where on-screen patriotism gradually transformed into nationalism and propaganda-driven storytelling. From Mother India to Border and LOC Kargil, we explore how the definition of a hero shifted from one rooted in society’s struggles to one defined by guns and uniforms. Along the way, we look at cinema’s influence, historical parallels, and films that stirred deep patriotism in audiences — but at times, also turned it into hostility against the “enemy.” This is not just a story about films, but about our thoughts, emotions, and collective memory.

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