Breaking his silence following weeks of intense social media debate, acclaimed filmmaker Sriram Raghavan has finally addressed the polarized reception to his latest war drama, Ikkis. Speaking at a special ‘Vartalaap’ session organized by the Screenwriters Association (SWA) on Friday, the director expressed a mix of bafflement and defiance regarding the criticism the film has faced since its theatrical release on January 1, 2026.
A “Baffling” Response
The film, a biographical drama based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal (played by Agastya Nanda), has been at the center of a digital firestorm. While critics praised its technical finesse and emotional depth, a vocal section of the audience accused the film of being “too soft” in its portrayal of Pakistan, particularly regarding a sequence involving a Pakistani Brigadier, played by Jaideep Ahlawat.
“We were quite baffled, actually, by the response after the film came out,” Raghavan admitted during the session. “Our first screening was for an audience of 800-plus people in Delhi—entirely army personnel, top brass, veterans, and young cadets. It was a solid screening, and their response was overwhelmingly positive.”
The “Unseen” Critics
Addressing the online backlash—which saw hashtags questioning the film’s “ideological compass”—Raghavan suggested that much of the outrage stems from a lack of context. He hinted that many of the loudest voices on social media might be reacting to snippets or hearsay rather than the complete cinematic experience.
“I feel many of those who are objecting probably haven’t seen the film,” Raghavan stated firmly. “Now that it is out on OTT, I hope they watch it—then I will respond.” He emphasized that as a filmmaker, he cannot allow fear of backlash to dictate his creative choices, noting that self-censorship out of fear is “a bit crazy.”
Conflict Over the Disclaimer
The director also touched upon the controversial post-credit disclaimer that appears at the end of the film. The text describes the humane behavior of the Pakistani character as an “exceptional incident” and labels the neighboring country as “not trustworthy.”
Raghavan revealed a rare glimpse of creative friction with producer Dinesh Vijan, confessing he was “personally not happy” with the inclusion of the disclaimer. He compared the situation to his previous collaboration with Vijan on Badlapur, where a music video was added at the end against his wishes, disrupting the film’s mood.
Legacy and The OTT Pivot
Ikkis serves as the final screen appearance of the late legendary actor Dharmendra, who passed away in November 2025. Despite its struggle at the box office, making roughly 180 million in its first week, the team is hopeful for a second life on streaming platforms.
Raghavan noted that the story’s “two timelines”—one focusing on the 21-year-old martyr and the other on his elderly father seeking closure years later—was what drew him to the project. He remains steadfast that the film’s “peace-oriented narrative” is the right way to honor a hero’s legacy. To know such latest updates tuned tellyboosters.com Thank you!
