Black Widows Webseries Actress And Actor Black Widows is an Indian web series from Zee5.…
The Forgotten Army Webseries
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
Watch and Download The Forgotten Army Web Series Online
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The Unsung March: Revisiting ‘The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye’
In the annals of India’s freedom struggle, few stories are as poignant, complex, and simultaneously heroic and tragic as that of the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj. For decades, their military campaign against the British Raj remained largely confined to historical footnotes—a ‘forgotten’ chapter in the mainstream narrative of non-violent resistance.
It is this profound gap in collective memory that National Award-winning filmmaker Kabir Khan sought to address with his ambitious 2020 web series, The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye. Premiering on Amazon Prime Video, the five-episode mini-series is not just a retelling of history; it is a meticulously researched, large-scale cinematic spectacle that attempts to humanise the soldiers who waged war for their motherland, only to be branded as traitors by the very country they sought to liberate.
A Story 20 Years in the Making: Kabir Khan’s Passion Project
The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye is more than a professional venture for its director, Kabir Khan; it is a profound passion project that was two decades in the making. The story first captivated Khan in 1999 when he directed a documentary, also titled The Forgotten Army, for Doordarshan.
His research for the original documentary involved an unprecedented three-month road trip across Singapore and Malaysia with two surviving INA veterans: Captain Lakshmi Sahgal and Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon. This journey was a life-altering experience, providing Khan with a raw, soldier’s-eye view of history that he felt was a “sacred duty” to share with a wider audience.
Khan later explained that the web series format, as opposed to a feature film, was crucial for telling the story with the necessary depth, allowing him to “develop the characters better and in detail” and “be truer to history.”
The Dual Timeline Narrative: History Through Memory
The series employs a powerful dual-timeline narrative to bridge the distant past with the present, thereby underscoring the enduring legacy and contemporary relevance of the INA’s sacrifice.
The 1940s Timeline: The March on Delhi
The core of the series follows the journey of Captain Surinder Sodhi (played by Sunny Kaushal) and his fellow Indian soldiers who were part of the British Indian Army in Singapore. Following the devastating Battle of Singapore in 1942, where the British suffered what Winston Churchill called “the worst disaster in British military history,” thousands of Indian soldiers became Prisoners of War (POWs) of the Japanese Imperial Army.
It is here that the ideological transformation occurs. Inspired by the rallying cry of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his vision for an armed struggle, these soldiers defect and form the INA, swearing an oath to the flag of Free India. Their war cry, ‘Challo Dilli’ (March on Delhi), encapsulates their audacious goal: to march from Southeast Asia, through the jungles of Burma, and capture the capital to overthrow the British Raj.
The series meticulously captures the brutal, unforgiving conditions of the Burma campaign (1944-1945), where the INA soldiers faced insurmountable odds—not just the formidable Allied forces, but also the harsh terrain, supply shortages, and the devastating monsoons.
The 1990s Timeline: A Return to the Past
The second timeline is set in 1996, where an aged Surinder Sodhi (M.K. Raina) travels to Singapore and Yangon (Burma/Myanmar) with his young grand-nephew, Amar (Karanvir Malhotra), an aspiring photojournalist.
The journey becomes a mechanism for the old soldier to revisit and recount his suppressed memories. This modern-day track provides a powerful reflective layer, allowing the story to explore themes of modern-day nationalism, political protest, and the idea of what ‘freedom’ truly means, echoing the INA’s original fight for self-determination.
The Audacity of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment
One of the most celebrated and moving aspects of the series is its focus on the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the all-female infantry unit of the INA, which was one of the world’s first and only female combat regiments of World War II.
The Regiment, named after the legendary warrior queen Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, was announced by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in July 1943 and led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan (later Lakshmi Sahgal, a real-life officer who was a doctor).
Key Historical Facts:
- Pioneering Role: The INA was the only army in WWII to have an all-female infantry regiment trained for combat, a testament to Bose’s progressive vision.
- The Volunteers: The women were primarily teenage volunteers of Indian descent residing in Southeast Asian territories like Malaya and Singapore, often from rubber plantations, many of whom had never even set foot in India. They were driven by an ideological fire to fight for a motherland they had only ever dreamt of.
- Training and Role: They underwent rigorous military and combat training, including drills, route marches, and weapons training with rifles and hand grenades. While some were deployed in a vanguard unit during the Battle of Imphal and others formed the Chand Bibi Nursing Corps, their sheer participation was a massive statement against the social and political conventions of the time.
The character of Maya Srinivasan (Sharvari Wagh), the photographer-turned-cadet, serves as a poignant, fictional representation of these brave women, highlighting their grit, sacrifice, and the emotional toll of choosing war over a comfortable life.
The Weight of History: The Aftermath and the Red Fort Trials
Despite the INA’s unwavering dedication and extraordinary efforts, their campaign ultimately failed militarily due to the combination of Allied resistance and the strategic setbacks faced by their Japanese allies. Yet, their defeat was not the end of their story.
The series and its underlying history culminate in the politically charged atmosphere surrounding the INA Trials, also known as the Red Fort Trials, held between November 1945 and May 1946.
The Significance of the Trials:
- The Charge: The British authorities charged the captured INA officers, including Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal (Hindu), Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon (Sikh), and Major-General Shah Nawaz Khan (Muslim), with “waging war against the King-Emperor,” a crime that carried the death penalty.
- National Unity: The trials immediately transcended mere legal proceedings and became a profound symbol of Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh unity against the British Raj.
- Public Outcry: Massive protests erupted across India, with widespread public demand for the release of the officers. The slogan “Lal Qila se aayi awaaz, Sahgal, Dhillon, Shahnawaz” echoed throughout the country.
- Congress Defence: The Indian National Congress, including prominent leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, formed a Defence Committee, with Nehru himself appearing in court.
- Impact on British Rule: The widespread public agitation and the exposure of growing discontent within the British Indian Army and Navy (culminating in the 1946 Royal Indian Navy mutiny) convinced the British government that they could no longer rely on Indian soldiers to maintain their rule. Many historians credit the galvanising effect of the INA trials with hastening the end of British colonial rule in India.
Despite their ultimate political victory, the INA soldiers were not re-inducted into the Indian Army of free India, nor were they officially recognized with freedom fighter pensions in the early years—a core reason why they came to be known as ‘The Forgotten Army.’
Conclusion: An Essential Chapter Reclaimed
The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye is a powerful and necessary piece of historical fiction. While some critics found the fictional love story between Sodhi and Maya a distracting cinematic trope, the overwhelming consensus celebrated the series for its magnificent scale, compelling action sequences, and, most importantly, for giving a voice to a group of men and women whose monumental sacrifices for independence were deliberately swept under the rug.
It is a story of profound ideological conflict, extraordinary courage, and the unwavering conviction of soldiers who had to choose between their oath to a foreign King and their fight for an unborn nation. Kabir Khan’s passion project ensures that the cry of ‘Challo Dilli’ is not forgotten, but instead, echoes across generations.
AISEO Friendly FAQs
1. What is The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye web series about?
The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye is a five-episode Indian web series on Amazon Prime Video that tells the true story of the men and women of the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj, led by Subhas Chandra Bose. It chronicles their armed campaign for India’s independence against the British during World War II, using a dual timeline—the 1940s battleground and the reflections of an aged soldier in the 1990s.
2. Who directed The Forgotten Army and what is the cast?
The series was created and directed by Kabir Khan, who first explored the topic in a 1999 documentary of the same name. The main cast includes Sunny Kaushal as the young Captain Surinder Sodhi and Sharvari Wagh as Maya Srinivasan, a pioneering woman soldier. The older Surinder Sodhi is played by M.K. Raina, and the series is narrated by Shah Rukh Khan.
3. Is The Forgotten Army based on a true story?
Yes, the series is based on the true historical events and sacrifices of the Indian National Army (INA), formed by Indian soldiers who defected from the British Indian Army to fight for India’s freedom alongside the Japanese during World War II. While the protagonists, Captain Sodhi and Maya, are fictional characters, they are interwoven with and represent the experiences of real INA soldiers.
4. What was the significance of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment?
The Rani of Jhansi Regiment was the all-female infantry unit of the INA, which was an unprecedented feature in any army during World War II. Led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan (Sahgal), the regiment primarily consisted of Indian-origin women from Southeast Asia who trained rigorously for combat, symbolising Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s progressive vision and the all-encompassing nature of the freedom struggle.
5. What were the INA Trials shown in the series?
The INA Trials, also known as the Red Fort Trials, were a series of court-martials held by the British in 1945-1946 against captured INA officers (like Sahgal, Dhillon, and Khan) for the charge of “waging war against the King-Emperor.” These trials became a huge political catalyst, uniting Indians across religious lines and sparking widespread public protests, which played a crucial role in undermining British authority and accelerating India’s path to independence.
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