Salman Khan’s ‘Battle of Galwan’ Renamed ‘Maatrubhumi’

NEW DELHI, Mar 16: Bollywood actor Salman Khan on Monday announced that his upcoming film “Battle of Galwan” has been retitled “Maatrubhumi”.

The film, based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between India and China, is directed by Apoorva Lakhia, known for the film Shootout at Lokhandwala.

Khan shared the new title along with the film’s poster on social media, writing, “May War Rest In Peace. #Maatrubhumi.” The movie now carries the tagline “May War Rest In Peace”.

The actor, however, did not provide any specific reason for the sudden change in the film’s title.

According to reports, the new title appears to be inspired by the film’s first track “Maatrubhumi”, sung by Arijit Singh.

The movie draws inspiration from the military standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh in May 2020, which escalated into violent clashes in the Galwan Valley in June that year, severely straining ties between the two countries.

Twenty Indian Army personnel lost their lives in the clashes. In February 2021, China acknowledged that five of its military personnel were killed, though reports suggested the toll on the Chinese side could be higher.

In the film, Khan portrays Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer who laid down his life along with 19 soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment during the confrontation.

Earlier, on his 60th birthday, Khan had shared the teaser of the film, which drew criticism from the Chinese state-run publication Global Times, claiming the movie exaggerated events and distorted facts.

A government source at the time defended the film, saying India has a tradition of cinematic expression and citing earlier war-themed films such as Haqeeqat, based on the 1962 India-China war, and 120 Bahadur on the Battle of Rezang La. (Agencies)