Rajnath Singh praises film Operation Safed Sagar for authentic Kargil portrayal
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said ties between the Indian armed forces and the film industry were seeing a positive exchange, as he praised
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said ties between the Indian armed forces and the film industry were seeing a positive exchange, as he praised the makers of Netflix series "Operation Safed Sagar" for portraying soldiers with "respect and authenticity". In a special video message played at the show's premiere, he said such efforts honoured soldiers and encouraged patriotism among the youth. Read Full Story The eight-part drama, inspired by the Indian Air Force's role in the 1999 Kargil War, premieres on Netflix on Friday. Created by Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Kushal Srivastava, and directed by Oni Sen, the series follows the Golden Arrows Squadron as young fighter pilots carry out high-altitude combat missions while dealing with the personal and emotional costs of war. Congratulating the makers for bringing one of the country's defining military operations to screen, Singh said, "I am glad to see that today there is a positive exchange between Indian defence and cinema. There is an attempt to portray the real glory of our soldiers with the same respect and authenticity that they deserve. This increases the honour of our soldiers and encourages the love for the nation among the youth." He said the IAF changed the course of the Kargil conflict through Operation Safed Sagar. "Before 1999, no other air force in the world had conducted a combat operation above 15,000 to 19,000 feet. Our air warriors showcased extraordinary courage during that operation and the attempt is to take forward that courage, that bravery and that legacy to the next generation," he said.
Singh also said taking the story of the Kargil War to a global audience through the Netflix show was a significant achievement. He said the series would connect with younger viewers while showing India's resolve to defend its sovereignty. "I firmly believe that this story of Operation Safed Sagar would be loved by our youth and this series will tell the country and the world that India may be a peace loving nation but if someone challenges our sovereignty and honour, our army will respond to that with complete strength and determination," he said. The premiere at Bharat Mandapam was attended by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, Air Force Families Welfare Association president Sarita Singh and Veer Nari Alka Ahuja, wife of the late Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja. They were joined by IAF veterans, members of the Golden Arrows Squadron whose story inspired the series, and the cast and creators of "Operation Safed Sagar". The series is produced by Matchbox Shots and Feel Good Films, and stars Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill, Dia Mirza, Abhay Verma, Prajakta Koli, Adil Hussain, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin and Amrita Bagchi.
The BriefWire