Ikkis

Hello everyone! As a film aficionado, I'm eager to unpack Ikkis, the 2026 Hindi-language biographical war drama that premiered on January 1, 2026, marking a thoughtful start to the year. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, known for thrillers like Andhadhun, this film shifts gears to humanize war's toll. Produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films with a ₹60 crore budget, it stars Agastya Nanda in his debut as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, alongside Dharmendra in a swan-song role as his father. Running 147 minutes, it's an anti-war narrative based on real events from the 1971 Indo-Pak War, emphasizing reconciliation over jingoism. Despite positive reviews, it underperformed commercially amid competition. In this 1500-word post, I'll cover a short intro (done!), story, cast and crew table, box office collection, OTT options, and a balanced review—all verified for accuracy.

Ikkis (meaning "Twenty-One") is a moving tribute to 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee, who sacrificed his life at 21 during the 1971 war. Co-written by Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, and Pooja Ladha Surti, it weaves biography with anti-war themes, distributed by Jio Studios in India and Yash Raj Films internationally. Shot with Anil Mehta's evocative cinematography and edited by Monisha R. Baldawa, the film features songs by White Noise Collectives and a score by Sachin-Jigar. Postponed from December 25, 2025, for astrological reasons, it released amid high expectations but faced box office hurdles from holdovers like Dhurandhar. Praised for performances and humanism, it's a must-watch for history buffs, though not a crowd-pleaser.

Story

Ikkis masterfully intercuts between 1971 and 2001, portraying Arun Khetarpal's (Agastya Nanda) journey from a spirited cadet to a war hero. In 1971, Arun trains in Ahmednagar, falls in love with Kiran Kochar (Simar Bhatia), but prioritizes duty, breaking up in June. As war erupts on December 3, he's a tank commander in the Poona Horse regiment under Lt. Col. Hanut Singh (Rahul Dev). During the Battle of Basantar, Arun heroically battles 14 Pakistani Patton tanks, destroying several before his Centurion tank, 'Famagusta', is hit by Brigadier Jaan Mohammad Nisar (Jaideep Ahlawat). Mistaken for the enemy by locals, his final stand earns him the PVC posthumously.

Box Office Collection

With a ₹60 crore budget, Ikkis opened modestly on January 1, 2026, amid competition from Dhurandhar's holdover and new releases. Day 1 net India: ₹6.75-7.28 crore, per Sacnilk and trade estimates. It dropped to ₹4.02 crore on Day 2 (Friday), then rose slightly to ₹5.05 crore (Saturday) and ₹5.70 crore (Sunday), totaling ₹22.05 crore for the extended opening weekend.

By Day 5, it recovered ~40% of budget with ₹24 crore net. Day 10: ₹27.55 crore net India. As of January 22 (Day 22), gross worldwide: ₹36.89 crore (India net ₹28.33 crore, gross ₹33.73 crore). Final estimates (wrapped by Jan 18): India net ₹35.35 crore. Overseas: $175K (North America), £26K (UK), A$45K (Australia), NZ$12K.

Labeled a commercial failure due to niche appeal and clashes, it needed ₹120 crore for hit status but fell short.

OTT Streaming Options

Post-theatrical, Ikkis heads to Amazon Prime Video. It will first be available for rent on Prime Video Store from March 12, 2026, then for full streaming subscribers likely by late March or April. This 8-10 week window follows standard practices. Accessible in Hindi with subtitles—opt for legal viewing to honor the story!

Review

Ikkis garners a strong 4/5 from me—it's a graceful, anti-war gem that prioritizes humanity over heroism. Strengths: Raghavan's direction sidesteps jingoism, delivering a thoughtful plea for peace through timeline shifts and emotional revelations. Agastya Nanda impresses in his debut with raw intensity, Dharmendra tugs heartstrings in his finale, and Ahlawat humanizes the "foe." Mehta's cinematography and subtle score enhance the realism.

Weaknesses: Underwhelming music and a slow pace in parts; some felt it lacked spectacle. Critics rave: NDTV (3.5/5) calls it solidly acted; Indian Express (3/5) praises anti-war depth; Bollywood Hungama (4/5) hails it as deeply human; Rotten Tomatoes notes it's worth checking despite not being genre-best. Reddit users echo emotions on war's pain.