Review: Ikkis: Genuine But Standard

 

Movie: Ikkis
Rating: 3/5

Cast: Dharmendra, Agastya Nanda, Jaideep Ahlawat, Simar Bhatia, Sikander Kher, Vivaan Shah, Suhasini Mulay, Rahul Dev, Ekavali Khanna, Avani Rai, Deepak Dobriyal, Asrani and others

Director: Sriram Raghavan

Produced By: Dinesh Vijan

Release Date: 01-01-2026

Story:

Brigadier Madan Lal Khetarpal (Dharmendra) travels to Lahore, Pakistan, for two important reasons. First, he wants to reunite with his school and college friends, as he once lived in Sargodha before the Partition. Second, he wants to understand why his 21-year-old son, 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal (Agastya Nanda), chose not to follow orders to abandon his tank and save himself during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Performances:

Legendary actor Dharmendra, who recently passed away and left his fans heartbroken, delivers an exceptional performance in the film. Agastya Nanda impresses with a strong and confident debut. Jaideep Ahlawat is natural as always and gives a convincing performance. Simar Bhatia makes her presence felt despite limited screen time. Actors like Sikander Kher, Vivaan Shah, Suhasini Mulay, Rahul Dev, Ekavali Khanna, Avani Rai, Deepak Dobriyal, and the late Asrani all play their parts well.

What Works:

Ikkis focuses more on emotions than on heroic moments. The film highlights the emotional impact of war on soldiers’ families, especially after losing a loved one. The dialogues are simple yet effective, the cinematography sets the right mood, and the tank war sequences are well executed. The final thirty minutes stand out as the best part of the film.

What Doesn't:

The screenplay could have been much better, as the film loses momentum and breaks the flow at times. The emotional journey of Madan Lal Khetarpal lacks the required intensity and often feels surface-level. The first half feels random, and the love track fails to create the intended emotional impact. The most crucial scene, the death of 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal, is handled in a fairly ordinary manner.

Ikkis Review and Verdict:

Director Sriram Raghavan emphasizes the importance of human connection and viewing rivals as opponents rather than enemies in Ikkis. While the intent is clear, the emotional impact feels distant due to the ordinary screenplay, and the film ends up as a decent but not a great one.