The Forgotten Army Webseries Cast, Review, Wiki, Story, Trailer, Release date and more

The Forgotten Army is a Hindi web series created by Amazon Prime. The plot revolves around the amazing group of men and women who fought as a part of the Indian National Army for India’s Independence. The prestigious team was part of Subhash Chandra Bose who fought against the British which will raise the feel of patriotism within you.

The Major cast of The Forgotten Army Web Series includes Karanvir Malhotra, M.K. Raina, R. Badree, Rajiv Ranjan etc.

Check out below for The Forgotten Army Web Series (2020): Cast, Release date, Full HD episodes, High-Speed online streaming, Watch All Episodes.

The Forgotten Army Web Series Cast and Crew:

• Cast: Karanvir Malhotra, M.K. Raina, R. Badree, Rajiv Ranjan, Rajvir Chauhan, Rohit Choudhary, Sharvari Wagh, Sunny Kaushal
• Created by: Amazon Prime

Release Date: 24 January 2020

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The Untold War Cry: Everything You Need to Know About ‘The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye’ Web Series

The struggle for Indian Independence is a tapestry woven with countless tales of sacrifice, but some threads, particularly those from the fringes of the global conflict, have remained largely unsung. Director Kabir Khan’s 2020 web series, The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye, aims to bring one such pivotal, yet overlooked, story to the fore: the heroic journey of the Indian National Army (INA).

Launched to coincide with India’s Republic Day, this Amazon Prime Video Original is more than just a war drama; it is a meticulously researched historical tribute, a compelling emotional journey, and an expansive cinematic retelling of a group of soldiers who decided to fight their former masters for the freedom of their motherland. For anyone seeking to understand the often-misrepresented history of the INA, or simply looking for an engaging period drama, The Forgotten Army provides a visual and emotional feast.

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Series Wiki: An Epic Story 20 Years in the Making

The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye is a historical drama miniseries that premiered on Amazon Prime Video on January 24, 2020. The series is a passion project for creator and director Kabir Khan, who also made his directorial debut in 1999 with a documentary of the same name for Doordarshan. Khan often described the 2020 series as a “20 years in the making” project, born from his extensive research and desire to tell this monumental story.

The show comprises a single season with five episodes and features Shah Rukh Khan as the compelling narrator, providing historical context and emotional weight to the narrative.

Story and Historical Context

The narrative of The Forgotten Army is based on the true story of the soldiers—both men and women—of the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj, led by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

The INA was formed out of Indian soldiers who had been fighting for the British Indian Army during World War II but were captured by the Imperial Japanese forces, primarily during the Fall of Singapore in 1942. Given a choice, these soldiers decided to defect and form an army dedicated solely to fighting for India’s independence from colonial rule, with the famous war cry ‘Challo Dilli’ (March on Delhi) as their rallying call.

One of the most remarkable facts the series highlights is the existence of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the world’s first all-female infantry regiment in a modern army outside of the Russian units of the time, proving the gender-inclusive vision of Netaji’s army.

A Dual Timeline Narrative

The series utilizes a dual timeline structure to connect the historical past with its lasting legacy.

1. 1942-1945 (The War Front): This primary storyline follows the harrowing journey of the INA, detailing their recruitment, rigorous training, and the difficult, often fatal, march through Southeast Asia—specifically Burma—against the British and Allied forces. It is during this tumultuous period that the core fictional narrative unfolds, centering on the relationship between Captain Sodhi and Maya.
2. 1996 (The Legacy): The parallel track introduces a much older Colonel Sodhi, who travels to Burma with his grandson, Amar. This journey serves as a vehicle for the elderly Sodhi to recount his past, reliving the memories of the INA’s struggle while simultaneously getting involved in a contemporary student pro-democracy uprising in the region. The dual-narrative approach aims to underscore the idea that the fight for freedom and the cost of independence are perpetual themes.

The core story focuses on Captain Surinder Sodhi and the Singaporean-born Indian woman Maya Srinivasan, exploring their relationship on the battlefield—a fictional romance set against a cataclysmic, historical backdrop.

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The Stellar Cast and Characters

The Forgotten Army features a blend of established and fresh talent, with the lead pair making a significant impact in their respective roles.

Actor	Character	Role Description
Sunny Kaushal	Captain Surinder Sodhi (Young)	The courageous and dynamic young Lieutenant in the British Indian Army who defects to become Captain in the INA. He is the central figure leading the march to Delhi and is driven by an intense sense of patriotism.
M. K. Raina	Old Surinder Sodhi	The aged Colonel Sodhi in the 1996 timeline, who recounts the forgotten saga of his youth and his fellow soldiers.
Sharvari Wagh	Maya Srinivasan	A Singaporean-born Indian photographer who joins the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the women’s infantry unit of the INA. This was Sharvari Wagh’s acting debut.
Karanvir Malhotra	Amar	Sodhi’s grandson in the 1996 timeline, who serves as the audience’s window into his grandfather’s past and is a catalyst for the retelling of the story.
TJ Bhanu Parvathimurthy	Rasamma	A fellow female soldier in the Rani of Jhansi Regiment.
Rohit Chaudhary	Arshad	A soldier alongside Sodhi in the INA, providing some of the livelier moments.
Shruti Seth	Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan	Portraying the real-life commander of the Rani Jhansi Regiment.
Shah Rukh Khan	Narrator	Providing a powerful and organic voice-over to guide the audience through the historical significance of the events.

The cast’s sincerity, particularly the performances of Sunny Kaushal and Sharvari Wagh, was highlighted in the critical reception, bringing depth to the characters’ struggles.

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Trailer, Production, and Visual Scale

The official trailer for The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye was released well in advance of the streaming date, immediately generating buzz for its ambitious scale and production quality.

Production Values

Mounted on an impressively grand scale, the web series was touted as one of Amazon Prime Video’s most expensive Indian original series at the time. The production’s effort to recreate the 1940s era was extensive, involving shooting in real locations like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Mumbai. The visual appeal was significantly enhanced by the excellent cinematography by Aseem Mishra, who captured both the brutal, visceral quality of the combat situations and the beautiful visual imagery of the era.

The production team also undertook painstaking efforts, such as custom-creating hundreds of 1940s-era bicycles and meticulously recreating the look and feel of Singapore during that time, demonstrating a high commitment to historical authenticity.

Music and Direction

The music for the series was composed by Pritam, with original score by Julius Packiam and Joel Crasto, which added to the series’ emotional depth and patriotic fervor. Director Kabir Khan’s signature style, refined through films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Ek Tha Tiger, translated well to the digital format, bringing a large-canvas, cinematic experience to the small screen.

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Critical Review and Audience Reception

The reception to The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye was generally mixed to positive, with critics acknowledging its significant strengths while pointing out a few weaknesses in the narrative structure.

Strengths

• Historical Honesty and Education: The series was widely praised for its non-jingoistic and relatively honest portrayal of the INA’s struggle, filling a major gap in the popular historical narrative. Many critics appreciated the focus on the soldiers’ point of view and the spotlight on the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, a chapter of history often overlooked.
• Technical Brilliance: The cinematography, high production values, action sequences, and sound design were lauded for being superb and impressive. The seamless interweaving of different timelines by the editors was also noted as a key technical achievement.
• Performances: The lead actors, especially Sunny Kaushal and Sharvari Wagh, delivered sincere and strong performances, lending credibility to the intense emotional and physical demands of their characters.

Criticisms

The primary point of criticism revolved around the balance between the historical epic and the fictional romantic subplot.

• “Drowned in Melodrama”: Some reviewers felt the compelling historical epic was “drowned in melodrama” as the fictional love story between Sodhi and Maya started taking precedence over the INA’s real account and strategic efforts.
• Dilution of History: The emphasis on the romance diluted the focus on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s leadership and the complex socio-political factors leading to the INA’s formation and subsequent plight. This “filmi melodrama” often marred the attempts to engross the audience with absorbing factual details.

Despite the narrative critiques, the series garnered a strong audience reception, with an IMDb rating of 8.1/10 (as of a July 2020 review), showcasing that the powerful, emotional story and the high production quality resonated strongly with viewers. Ultimately, The Forgotten Army succeeds as a graceful and powerful tribute to the soldiers who chose to fight for Azaadi Ke Liye (For the Sake of Freedom) and whose monumental contribution to India’s independence struggle was tragically sidelined by history.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the web series The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye.

Q1: What is ‘The Forgotten Army’ web series about?

A: The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye is a historical drama miniseries based on the true story of the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj, led by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose during World War II. It recounts the journey of 55,000 Indian soldiers—men and women—who defected from the British Indian Army to fight for India’s independence from the British Raj, with their war cry being ‘Challo Dilli’. The series uses a dual timeline, focusing on the historical battles of the 1940s and the legacy of the soldiers in 1996, framed by the fictional love story of Captain Surinder Sodhi and Maya Srinivasan.

Q2: Who are the main cast members of ‘The Forgotten Army’?

A: The main cast of the web series includes:

• Sunny Kaushal as the young Captain Surinder Sodhi.
• Sharvari Wagh as Maya Srinivasan, a soldier in the Rani of Jhansi Regiment (the women’s unit).
• M. K. Raina as the older Colonel Surinder Sodhi.
• Karanvir Malhotra as Amar, Sodhi’s grandson.
• Shah Rukh Khan serves as the Narrator.

Q3: Who directed ‘The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye’?

A: The series was created and directed by Kabir Khan, a renowned filmmaker known for directing major Bollywood films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Ek Tha Tiger. The web series is an expanded adaptation of his 1999 documentary of the same title.

Q4: Where and when can I watch ‘The Forgotten Army’ and how many episodes does it have?

A: The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye is an Amazon Prime Video Original series. It premiered on January 24, 2020. The series is a miniseries consisting of five episodes.

Q5: Is the story of ‘The Forgotten Army’ a true story?

A: The series is based on true events concerning the Indian National Army (INA), their formation under Subhash Chandra Bose, the existence of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, and their fight against the British during World War II. While the historical backdrop and key figures are real, the core narrative focusing on the personal lives and love story of the protagonists, Captain Sodhi and Maya, is a fictional dramatization.

Q6: What is the significance of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment in the series?

A: The Rani of Jhansi Regiment was the women’s infantry unit of the INA, and its inclusion in the series is highly significant as it was the first of its kind in a modern army. The series highlights the bravery and commitment of these women, who were trained and fought on the battlefield, challenging the traditional roles of women in warfare during the 1940s. Sharvari Wagh’s character, Maya, is a member of this pioneering unit.