Indian Air Force Day 2024: When JP Dutta's Border Downplayed IAF's Role In Battle Of Longewala

Indian Air Force Day is celebrated on October 8 to honour the establishment of the Indian Air Force, IAF in 1932. The day is celebrated to remember the significant role the IAF plays in ensuring the security of the nation and its commitment to protecting the sovereignty of India.

Indian Air Force Day is a tribute to the valour of the Air Force officers. Over the years, the IAF has also been depicted in Bollywood movies. However, JP Dutta's Border (1997), considered a classic in the war film genre in India, faced criticism for playing down the role of the IAF in the Battle Of Longewala as depicted in the movie starring Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Akshaye Khanna Jackie Shroff and more.

Revisiting Border on Indian Air Force Day 2024

In Border, Jackie Shroff plays Wing Commander Andy Bajwa, who is tasked with establishing an air base in Jaisalmer as the clouds of war circle around the border. Andy assembles his team, called 'Hunters', and helps the ground forces at the film's climax battle.

In one of the scenes in the movie, while discussing the war strategy with Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri (Sunny Deol), Andy says a country's strength is measured by its Air Force. While the film remains a classic in the war genre in Bollywood, Border was also criticised for how it depicted the role the IAF played in the 1971 battle between India and Pakistan in December.

The Epic Battle of Longewala contests movie claims

As shown in Border, the infantry alone won the Battle Of Longewala, while the role of IAF was reduced to the periphery. However, at the war's 50th anniversary, a new book titled The Epic Battle of Longewala, written by Air Marshal Bharat Kumar (retd) after extensive research, contended it was actually airpower that decisively won the battle against Pakistan ’s major armoured thrust at the border outpost in Rajasthan .

The book contended that Dutta's Border erroneously depicts that the battle was “single-handedly” won by the Army company against all odds.