Heroes

Two film academy students, Ali and Sameer, decide to make a documentary as a graduation project. They aim to illustrate reasons not to join the Indian Armed Forces and embark on a motorcycle road trip delivering three letters from slain soldiers to their families. The journey becomes a path for exploring sacrifice, patriotism, and personal growth.

In Atari, they meet Kuljeet Kaur, the widow, and her son Jasswinder Singh, whose father Balkar Singh, a Sikh soldier, was killed in action three years earlier. The village's pride in the fallen officer provides a powerful backdrop for the film. While riding, their kite is cut and lands beyond a fence, revealing the border area with Pakistan.

They travel to Himachal where they meet Vikram Shergill, a wheelchair-using Air Force pilot whose brother, Captain Dhananjay Shergill, was killed in action. Vikram shows how he has come to terms with his loss and honors his brother's sacrifice. The meeting gives the filmmakers a different perspective on heroism and healing.

Their journey leads them to a Mr. and Mrs. Naqvi, but their bike runs out of petrol and they hitch a ride on a military convoy toward a base. They see soldiers' coffins in the truck and meet the regiment commander, where they discover another letter from Lt. Sahil Naqvi of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. The encounter raises questions about duty, memory, and the costs of war.

At the base, the trio talks to Mrs. Naqvi, who is busy at a tea party and seems not to fully grasp her son's loss. Sameer accuses her of not loving her son, but she offers a playback tape containing Sahil's message. The tape reveals Sahil's courage and how he saved a fellow soldier, reframing the family's grief.

The students realize the Naqvi couple's pain is eased not by distraction but by facing their loss together. They decide to return the letter and continue helping the family slowly rebuild their lives. The episode reinforces the documentary's message about processing grief and honor.

After finishing the documentary, they graduate and realize the journey changed them more than expected. In a voiceover, they reveal they did not go to America as planned because the trip reshaped their outlook on life and service. They attempt to join the Army but find the path challenging.

Instead of pursuing immediate military careers, they start a school to share their experiences and encourage others to reflect on patriotism and sacrifice. The project continues to grow, turning the documentary into a long-term educational effort. This new path marks a shift from personal adventure to community outreach.

Some years later, Ali and Sameer walk the school campus when a man in an olive drab uniform approaches. It is Jassi, the son of Balkar Singh, now grown and about to graduate from the Indian Military Academy. The encounter links the first mission to a new generation of soldiers, suggesting continuity of sacrifice.

The film ends with the line 'You don't have to be a soldier to love your country,' underscoring that patriotism can be expressed through education, memory, and everyday acts of courage. The final image implies a broader, enduring legacy beyond uniforms. The characters' journeys affirm that true service lives on in people and actions.