There are some important people whose stories stay in obscurity for a long time. Their stories deserve to be heard but sadly they don’t. Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta of 45th Cavalry Tank Squadron is one such man whose story not everyone knows. He fought for India during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Now his story is being adapted into a film.
Producers Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapoor are making this happen. They are producing the film, with Airlift fame director, Raja Krishnan Menon set to direct.
They’ve titled the film as Pippa, taken from Russian war tank, PT-76 (also known as Pippa).
So who is going to play the role of the Brigadier?
Actor, Shahid Kapoor’s brother, Ishaan Khatter has been in the lead. Khatter was excited and honored to be a part of the film and in a statement said :
“I am exhilarated to be a part of a film of such magnitude and importance and getting a chance to play the role of the suave and spirited tank commander Captain Balram Mehta is a true privilege.”
The Brigadier’s book ‘The Burning Chaffees’ is the source on which the film is based upon.
Writers, Ravinder Randhawa, Tanmay Mohan, and Menon have written the film’s script.
Apart from Khatter, director Menon also talked about the film. He said :
“The fact that there is going to be some never-seen-before tank war action is extremely thrilling to me as a filmmaker, but it’s the heroism and patriotism displayed by the young and strapping Brigadier Mehta, despite all that he was going through in his family, that really connected with me when Siddharth shared this story.”
The film will release in 2021.
Meanwhile, check out the film’s announcement :
A story that resonates with the spirit of independence, one such story is of #BrigadierBalramSinghMehta that needs to be told. #Pippa starring #IshaanKhatter, produced by @RonnieScrewvala & #SiddharthRoyKapur and directed by @RajaMenon will be in cinemas late next year. pic.twitter.com/jJF0JdansI
— Roy Kapur Films (@roykapurfilms) August 14, 2020