13 October,2023 01:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sam Manekshaw and Vicky Kaushal. Pic/Instagram
The rousing teaser of Meghna Gulzar's upcoming directorial, Sam Bahadur, was released today. It stars Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh in the central roles. The teaser gave a glimpse of the world of First Field Marshall and military might, Sam Manekshaw. While the teaser has sparked the right amount of excitement, do you know who was Sam Manekshaw and what role he played in forming India's glorious history? Here's all you wish to know.
Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was an Indian military leader who was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the five-star rank of field marshal. His distinguished military career spanned four decades and five wars, beginning with service in the British Indian Army in World War II. He became the 8th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army in 1969 and under his command, Indian forces conducted victorious campaigns against Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 that led to the liberation of Bangladesh in December 1971.
As per the teaser, it appears Sam Bahadur will also explore the chapter when a cabinet meeting was held in 1971 and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked Manekshaw if he was prepared to go to war with Pakistan. He replied that most of his armoured and infantry divisions were deployed elsewhere, only twelve of his tanks were combat-ready, and they would be competing for rail carriages with the grain harvest. He also pointed out the Himalayan passes would soon open up with the forthcoming monsoon, which would result in heavy flooding. After the cabinet had left the room, he offered to resign; she declined and instead sought his advice. He said he could guarantee victory if she would allow him to handle the conflict on his own terms, and set a date for it; the Prime Minister agreed.
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Fatima Sana Shaikh plays Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She served as the 3rd Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She was India's first and, to date, only female prime minister, and a central figure in Indian politics as the leader of the Indian National Congress.
Sanya Malhotra is Siloo, who is Sam's wife. She is an integral part of the biopic and it remains interesting to see how she shapes the film with her prowess.
