January 23 marks Parakram Diwas, commemorating Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth since its 2021 gazette by the Indian government—a tribute to his bold leadership in the freedom struggle. His saga of defiance has inspired a rich array of films and series, keeping his ideals forefront in public memory.
Kicking off in 1966, Piyush Bose’s ‘Subhas Chandra’ offered an intimate look at the making of a legend. Samar Kumar’s nuanced act covers Netaji’s scholastic achievements, Cambridge days, and ICS resignation, crafting a touching origin story of patriotism’s spark.
The gold standard arrived in 2004 with ‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero,’ Shyam Benegal’s tour de force. Sachin Khedekar’s National Award-winning depiction, with Divya Dutta’s compelling support, narrates the high-stakes period of 1941-1945: escape, INA formation, and valiant campaigns alongside Japan and Germany. Its sensitive handling of war’s brutality and Netaji’s vision has made it a festival darling worldwide.
Addressing lingering doubts, 2017’s ‘Bose: Dead/Alive’ web series features Rajkummar Rao as Netaji in a conspiracy-laden plot. Ekta Kapoor’s production, directed by Pulkit and based on Anuj Dhar’s book, scrutinizes the Taiwan crash account through thrilling investigations, blending fact and fiction to provoke thought on hidden truths.
Bengali screens shine separately. ‘Netaji’ (2019), aired on Zee Bangla with Abhishek Bose, engages youth with Netaji’s transformative student phase in eastern India. Srijit Mukherji’s ‘Gumnami’ that year, starring Prosenjit Chatterjee, unravels the Mukherjee Commission’s findings on Netaji’s fate with gripping intrigue. Across formats, these stories reinforce Netaji’s enduring mantra, fueling national pride year after year.