'Haqeeqat' is a 1964 war film set against the Indo-China conflict. It was the first Indian motion film to be shot in Ladakh. The film was not only a representation of war, but a dramatic retelling of the impact war has on the common soldier. Chetan Anand dedicated the film to Jawaharlal Nehru and the soldiers in Ladakh.
The film was made with the government and army assistance. Even the main star Balraj Sahni worked for this film free of charge. The film was released in 1964 after the death of Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru. The film received the National Award for Best Film and Art Direction. The film was the first realistic portrayal of war in Hindi cinema.
The film offered the Indian perspective of feeling stabbed in the back by a seeming friend, China. He used documentary footage and demonstrated the way in which China's Premier Chou En-lai was welcomed with open arms during his visit to India. In a rousing speech to the troops, Brigadier Singh emphasizes that despite the respect bestowed upon China, Chinese troops have sneakily attacked a peace-loving nation like India.
The film stars Dharmendra, Balraj Sahni, Priya Rajvansh, Sudhir, Sanjay Khan and Vijay Anand in significant roles. The acting of all major actors was outstanding. Another highlight of the film was its music. The music was composed by Madan Mohan and all of the songs are written by Kaifi Azmi. The music begins with lively romantic tunes and moves to more epic war, sad and celebratory tunes. The song "Ab Tumhare Hawaale Watan Saathiyon" sung by Mohammed Rafi has become synonymous with patriotism in India. Another song "Ho Ke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bhulaya Hoga" is a gem of a song.
There were classic war films made earlier like Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani or Hum Dono in 1961, many more war films made after this but this remains the best.
