In the coming ten years, the Indian film industry is likely going to make many war films. The Pahalgam terror killings have resulted in retaliatory strikes by the Indian military. Pakistan has carried out escalatory attacks, putting the two nations on a path of war. On Thursday night, conflicts intensified.
Defence experts predict that the Indian military could do something extraordinary -- a once-in-a-century adventure this time. Many say that India might break up Pakistan into two countries. If that happens, war films will become the biggest attraction for Bollywood, which has been starved for ideas.
And the Indian government itself might commission documentaries and pro-war movies if it is imaginative enough. During World War II, the US government commissioned Frank Capra's Why We Fight series to educate American soldiers about the reasons for the war. Similarly, the British Army Film and Photographic Unit (AFPU) extensively documented their campaigns. Many Hollywood films during World War II, like Casablanca or Mrs. Miniver, addressed themes of war, sacrifice, and resilience without depicting active combat.
During the World War II era, a significant increase in war-related filmmaking was witnessed. Even in modern conflicts, documentaries and sometimes even narrative films are produced, though direct filming in active combat zones remains incredibly challenging.
